Liverpool 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen: Player ratings as Luis Diaz nets sensational hat-trick to rout German champions at Anfield

Liverpool decimated Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 at Anfield in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. Luis Diaz netted a sensational hat-trick while Cody Gakpo scored one too as the reigning champions were taken to the cleaners by Arne Slot’s rampant side. Following a cagey first-half that ended goalless, Diaz broke the deadlock for the Reds just past the hour mark, before Gakpo made it 2-0 just minutes later. The former added a third with only seven minutes of normal time remaining and then rounded off his treble with a stoppage-time goal. With four wins in four games, Liverpool consolidate their position at the top of the Champions League table with 12 points, while Die Werkself lose their first game of the season in Europe and sit in 11th with only seven points in the bag. Here are the player ratings:

Liverpool Player Ratings vs Bayer Leverkusen

Goalkeeper

Caoimhin Kelleher – 7

An easy game for him as Leverkusen were uncharacteristically quiet.

Defenders

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6.5

The marauding full-back didn’t have anything to do in defense, so drove forward to join up attacks although his efforts were off-target.

Ibrahima Konate – 6

Wasn’t really challenged by Leverkusen players in defense.

Virgil van Dijk – 7

Held the fort well and passed the ball around superbly.

Konstantinos Tsimikas – 7

The Greek made a few vital interceptions to impede Leverkusen’s movements, and ran forward to make a few crosses too.

Midfielders

Curtis Jones – 7.5

Laid three key passes and bagged the assist for Diaz’s opener.

Ryan Gravenberch – 7.5

Expertly plucked the ball off his markers and distributed the ball superbly to keep his side moving.

Alexis Mac Allister – 6.5

Passed the ball around with unerring accuracy but the number of passes were few, and offered no great shakes in offense either.

Forwards

Mohamed Salah – 8.5

Laid a perfectly-weighted cross for Gakpo to head home before setting up Diaz for a third.

Luis Diaz – 10

Broke the deadlock for Liverpool after the hour mark and then made it 3-0 late on; completed a hat-trick in stoppage-time.

Cody Gakpo – 8

Doubled Liverpool’s advantage shortly after Diaz opened the account.

Substitutes

Dominik Szoboszlai – 6.5

Was sent in to bolster their offense but fell short.

Andrew Robertson – 6

Came on to shore up defense for the final 10 minutes of normal time.

Darwin Nunez – 6.5

Injected a lot of firepower to Liverpool’s offense; even set-up Diaz’s hat-trick goal.

Conor Bradley – 6

Won back the ball a few times.

Manager

Arne Slot – 7.5

His dream start as the Liverpool manager continued with another big scalp under his belt now.

Also Read: Fulham 2-1 Brentford: Player ratings as Harry Wilson nets stoppage-time double to down the Bees

Bayer Leverkusen Player Ratings vs Liverpool

Goalkeeper

Lukas Hradecky – 6.5

Made four saves but Liverpool’s quality was ultimately too much for him.

Defenders

Edmond Tapsoba – 7

Excellent reading of the game saw him make seven clearances and block one shot.

Jonathan Tah – 7

With four clearances and two shots blocked, Tah was certainly a crucial figure in defense.

Piero Hincapie – 7

Threw his body into the path of a few shots, and fought hard for the ball too.

Midfielders

Jeremie Frimpong – 8

Laid three key passes, five crosses and even made a few shots, although they weren’t really clinical.

Ezequiel Palacios – 8

Caused a lot of mayhem in midfield with five tackles and winning nine ground duels.

Granit Xhaka – 7

Leverkusen’s midfield maestro wasn’t at his usual best, but completed over 90% of his passes nonetheless.

Aleix Garcia – 7

Passed the ball around well and even attempted to get his side forward with some long balls.

Alejandro Grimaldo – 8

Won all five of his ground duels to demonstrate his ball-winning capabilities and laid a few crosses too upfront.

Forwards

Florian Wirtz – 6.5

The Liverpool defense didn’t let him much sight of the goal, so he turned creator a few times.

Victor Boniface – 6

Lacked the attacking firepower as all three of his shots were off-target.

Substitutes

Robert Andrich – 6.5

Made one shot that was saved.

Jonas Hofmann – 6

Distributed the ball superbly.

Nathan Tella – 5

Was on the fringes for much of the game.

Patrick Schick – N/A

Should’ve been brought on much earlier as Leverkusen were toothless in attack today.

Manager

Xabi Alonso – 5

Tactically outwitted on his return to Anfield tonight in what’s one of his worst results as Leverkusen manager.

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