Football has a funny way of making us feel like we’ve seen the future. When Xabi Alonso walked out of the Anfield tunnel in November 2024, it wasn't just a match. It felt like a glitch in the matrix. Here was the man everyone—literally everyone—thought would be sitting in the home dugout, instead leading a German side against the club that still treats him like royalty.
The hype was massive. You had the "invincible" Bundesliga champions visiting a Liverpool side that was supposedly in a "transition year" under Arne Slot. People expected a tactical chess match that would go down to the wire. What they got was a second-half demolition that changed the narrative of the entire 2024/2025 European season.
The tactical trap in Bayer Leverkusen vs Liverpool
Honestly, the first half was a bit of a slog. If you only watched the highlights, you'd think Liverpool dominated from the jump, but that’s just not true. Alonso’s 3-4-2-1 system was actually working. They were suffocating Liverpool's build-up. Granit Xhaka was doing Granit Xhaka things, sitting deep and directing traffic, while Florian Wirtz found pockets of space that made Virgil van Dijk look uncharacteristically nervous for about twenty minutes.
Leverkusen actually had a goal ruled out. Jeremie Frimpong thought he’d silenced the Kop, but a handball in the build-up saved Liverpool's skin. It was a wake-up call.
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Then came the second half.
Arne Slot didn't just tweak things; he basically flipped the table. Liverpool stopped trying to play through the middle and started exploiting the space behind Leverkusen’s wing-backs. In the 61st minute, Curtis Jones—who was arguably the best player on the pitch—played a pass that defied physics. He threaded a needle through four defenders to find Luis Díaz. The Colombian dinked it over Lukas Hradecky, and the floodgates didn't just open; they burst.
Two minutes later? Cody Gakpo headed in a second. VAR took a long look at it, but the goal stood. Suddenly, the "invincibles" looked very human.
Why the Luis Díaz "False 9" worked
One of the biggest misconceptions about this specific Bayer Leverkusen vs Liverpool clash was that Liverpool won because they were "more physical." Nah. It was a tactical masterstroke involving Luis Díaz.
Usually, Díaz is glued to the left wing. But Slot played him centrally, almost as a roaming striker. Jonathan Tah is one of the best defenders in the world, but he’s used to wrestling with traditional target men. He didn't know whether to stay or go when Díaz started dropping into midfield.
By the time the game hit the 83rd minute, Díaz had his second. In stoppage time, he completed his hat-trick. It was the first time a Liverpool player had scored three in a Champions League game at Anfield since Diogo Jota did it against Atalanta years prior. It wasn't just luck. It was a systematic breakdown of a very good German defense.
The Xabi Alonso "Return" narrative
We need to talk about the reception. Anfield is famous for its atmosphere, but it can be cold to former players if they’re perceived as "enemies." Not Xabi. The stadium sang his name. He looked genuinely touched, though he later admitted in the post-match presser that the 4-0 scoreline made it impossible to truly enjoy the moment.
"It’s painful," he said. "But Liverpool are a complete team."
There’s a lesson there. Most pundits thought Leverkusen’s possession-heavy style would frustrate Liverpool. Leverkusen actually had more of the ball—52% to 48%. They completed more passes. But Liverpool had 22 shots to Leverkusen's 12. It was a lesson in clinical efficiency over aesthetic possession.
Key Stats from the 4-0 Clash:
- Possession: Liverpool 48% - 52% Leverkusen
- Shots on Target: Liverpool 8 - 4 Leverkusen
- Big Chances: Liverpool 5 - 1 Leverkusen
- Man of the Match: Luis Díaz (3 goals)
What this means for the future of both clubs
If you’re looking at the historical head-to-head, Liverpool has a strange dominance over the Werkself. Out of six competitive meetings in the Champions League, Liverpool has won five. The only time Leverkusen really got the better of them was back in 2002, during that wild 4-2 win in Germany when Michael Ballack was at the height of his powers.
But the 2024 meeting felt different. It signaled that Arne Slot wasn't just a "safe" choice to replace Klopp—he was a tactical upgrade in certain European scenarios.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, has struggled to maintain that "invincible" aura since that night. They are still a top-tier side, but the blueprint to beat them is now out there: sit mid-block, wait for the wing-backs to push too high, and release pacey forwards into the channels.
Actionable insights for fans and analysts
If you're tracking the rivalry between these two, keep an eye on these specific trends:
- Watch the Wing-Backs: Leverkusen lives and dies by Grimaldo and Frimpong. When they are pinned back, the whole system collapses. Liverpool proved that a high-intensity press on the flanks is the "Kryptonite" to Alonso’s ball-carrying defenders.
- The 60-Minute Mark: Leverkusen has a habit of dropping intensity after the hour mark. Liverpool’s fitness levels in late-game situations are statistically higher, leading to most of the goals in this fixture occurring in the final 30 minutes.
- Midfield Rotation: Notice how Ryan Gravenberch has evolved. In the most recent matchups, he wasn't just a ball-winner; he was the escape valve that allowed Liverpool to bypass the Leverkusen press.
Don't just look at the scorelines. Look at where the balls are won. Liverpool's ability to win the ball in the "Zone 14" area (just outside the opposition box) has been the deciding factor in their last three meetings with German opposition.
To really understand how this matchup works, you should go back and watch the 20-minute window between the 60th and 80th minutes of their 2024 encounter. It’s a masterclass in how to dismantle a back-three system through lateral shifting and vertical runs. Leverkusen is great, but Liverpool at Anfield remains the ultimate litmus test for any continental project.