In a thrilling Champions League encounter, Liverpool secured a 4-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, with Luis Diaz stealing the show by netting a second-half hat-trick. Here are the player ratings from the match:
Goalkeeper & Defence
Caoimhin Kelleher (6/10)
Had a quiet night with limited action, making a couple of good saves late in the game.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (7/10)
Solid defensively and contributed to the build-up for the opening goal.
Ibrahima Konate (8/10)
Outstanding performance; effectively neutralized Leverkusen’s attacking threats.
Virgil van Dijk (8/10)
Commanding presence at the back, reliable throughout the match with no mistakes.
Konstantinos Tsimikas (6/10)
Struggled at times against Frimpong but was fortunate to see a first-half goal disallowed for handball.
Midfield
Alexis Mac Allister (6/10)
A quiet first half but improved after the break, forcing a good save from the Leverkusen keeper.
Ryan Gravenberch (7/10)
Active in winning back possession and made a significant run to set up a chance for Salah.
Curtis Jones (8/10)
Energetic and impactful, providing the assist for Diaz’s opener with a brilliant pass.
Attack
Mohamed Salah (8/10)
Consistently dangerous and instrumental in setting up goals for both Gakpo and Diaz.
Luis Diaz (9/10)
A standout performance with a brilliant run and finish for the opener, completing his hat-trick and adding an assist.
Cody Gakpo (7/10)
Missed an early opportunity but scored with a powerful header to double the lead.
Substitutes & Manager
Dominik Szoboszlai (6/10)
Came on for Jones, contributing to the team’s control in midfield.
Andy Robertson (7/10)
Made an impactful tackle that led to Liverpool’s fourth goal.
Darwin Nunez (6/10)
Showed his pace with strong runs after coming on, but didn’t directly influence the scoreline.
Conor Bradley (N/A)
Came on late to help maintain the clean sheet.
Jarrell Quansah (N/A)
A late substitute with minimal impact.
Arne Slot (8/10)
Outsmarted Xabi Alonso tactically, successfully integrating Jones and Diaz into the starting XI, leading to a dominant performance.
Liverpool’s win marks their fourth consecutive victory in the Champions League this season, showcasing their attacking prowess and solid defensive organization. The combination of Diaz’s brilliance and the tactical acumen of manager Arne Slot were key factors in this impressive performance at Anfield.