Bayer Leverkusen manager and former Real Madrid star Xabi Alonso has shared his thoughts on his team’s disappointing 4-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, Soccernet.ng reports.
The heavy loss left the German Bundesliga champions' promising season shaken as they struggled to keep up with the Reds' firepower.
Reflecting on the outcome, Alonso, who also enjoyed a successful stint with Liverpool during his playing career, admitted that the defeat was a tough pill to swallow for his players, including standout forward Victor Boniface.
“The players feel it. It’s much harder to describe in words than what you feel on the pitch,” Alonso said after the game.
The match saw Liverpool take control in the second half. Curtis Jones came close in the 55th minute, while Mohamed Salah fired wide just three minutes later.
However, Liverpool broke the deadlock in the 61st minute when Jones threaded a precise through ball to Luis Diaz, who chipped the ball over Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukáš Hrádecký to make it 1-0.
Liverpool wasted no time extending their lead, with Cody Gakpo heading in a second goal shortly after. Though Hrádecký made a strong save against Trent Alexander-Arnold to prevent a third goal, Diaz ultimately found the net again in the 83rd minute, putting Liverpool firmly in control.
Leverkusen mounted a few attempts of their own, with Florian Wirtz and substitute Robert Andrich testing the Liverpool defence late on, but it wasn’t enough to shift the momentum.
Diaz completed his hat-trick in added time, sealing Liverpool’s emphatic 4-0 victory and leaving Leverkusen to regroup as they seek to keep their European ambitions on track despite this setback.
