Liverpool turned up the heat in the second half at Anfield, defeating German champions Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 with a thrilling display that saw Luis Diaz secure a hat-trick and the Reds firmly assert their dominance in Europe. After a cautious start from both sides, Liverpool unleashed a relentless attacking display in the second half, quickly putting the game beyond reach for Xabi Alonso’s men.
From the opening whistle, Liverpool applied pressure, but Leverkusen looked organized, absorbing the early assault while aiming to create opportunities on the counterattack. Boniface fired an early warning shot from distance, and Salah nearly found Diaz in a dangerous position, only for Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah to intervene with a crucial tackle. Both teams wrestled for control in a tense first half marked by midfield congestion and quick tactical adjustments.
Leverkusen briefly thought they had taken the lead when Frimpong finished off a chance in the Liverpool box, but his goal was ruled out for handball. Liverpool, frustrated by their visitors’ resilience, seemed to lack a breakthrough spark until Curtis Jones and Diaz began to turn the tide.
The deadlock was finally broken after a clever move from Jones, who slipped a perfectly timed pass through the Leverkusen defense, finding Diaz in the box. Diaz responded with a sublime chip over Leverkusen’s goalkeeper, Lukáš Hrádecký, to open the scoring. Moments later, Liverpool doubled their lead after Cody Gakpo, previously flagged offside, scored from a Salah cross following a swift VAR review.
Liverpool’s momentum continued as they seized full control. Diaz added his second, slotting home after a smart touch on a loose ball at the back post, with Salah once again providing the assist. Diaz then completed his hat-trick in the final moments, capitalizing on a deflected ball from Nunez, sealing Liverpool’s emphatic victory.
The win propels Liverpool to the top of the Champions League table, as they extend their unbeaten streak. With two assists from Salah and a commanding display from Diaz, Liverpool fans left Anfield buzzing after another memorable night in Europe.