Xabi Alonso acknowledged that returning to Anfield was a “painful” experience as Luis Diaz’s hat-trick propelled Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
The German champions appeared to control the first half, but the match turned decisively in the second half when Diaz scored to give the home team the lead shortly after the hour mark.
Cody Gakpo also added his name to the scoreboard as Liverpool continued their impressive early season form under Arne Slot.
Liverpool v Leverkusen = The Luis Diaz Show ✨
All three goals from the Colombian in their 4-0 victory… ⚽️⚽️⚽️#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/fqh6uW0aQq
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) November 5, 2024
For Alonso, however, his ambitions for a favorable outcome during his return to Merseyside were dashed as his team faltered after conceding.
The former Liverpool player stated to Amazon Prime: “I believe we were quite good in the first half. In the second half, we struggled and couldn’t maintain possession or find the right positions. Our defensive intensity dropped, and we weren’t pressing effectively. The second goal was tough for us. The result is painful, but the performance is even more painful.
“It’s possible to come to Anfield and lose. However, losing 4-0 is not pleasant. They are an excellent team, and they capitalized on our mistakes. It’s disappointing that we couldn’t hold the lead for an additional 15 to 20 minutes. They managed it against Brighton, and they did it to us as well.”
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‘Congratulate Liverpool and move on’
Alonso noted he would not linger too long on the disappointing result.
He added: “We came prepared to give our best here. We performed decently for parts of the match, but everything changed in a span of 20 minutes. Liverpool is a strong team. We lacked both power and consistency. Accept the defeat, commend Liverpool, and move forward.”
Alonso grateful for warm reception
The Spanish coach, who was previously linked to the Liverpool managerial position before it was awarded to Slot, was well-regarded during his playing days at Anfield and received a warm welcome from the Kop both before and after the match.
He remarked: “I will try to distinguish between the game and the heartbreak from the result and the emotions of returning and feeling loved. I am truly grateful for that reception.
“It’s still too soon to make judgments, but I can tell that Liverpool has a solid balance, and they comprise a very complete team. They effectively utilize all 11 players and possess the ability to secure a clean sheet, which is vital in the Champions League. In the Premier League, we shall see. It’s early to judge, but things are looking promising.”
Image Source: Vitalii Vitleo / Shutterstock
