Liverpool shot to the top of the Champions League‘s revamped standings as they thumped German champions Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 at Anfield on Tuesday night.
A tough encounter was expected and the Bundesliga title holders provided stern opposition for the first 45 minutes on Merseyside. However, a second-half blitz continued Arne Slot’s incredible start to life as Reds manager as Luis Diaz bagged a hat-trick alongside a strike from Cody Gakpo.
Naturally, there were a number of brilliant performers for Liverpool, but which stars impressed the most in this midweek beatdown?
Here are their best and worst players from the entertaining thumping of Leverkusen, as relayed by 90min’s ratings.
Luis Diaz – 9/10
Liverpool‘s difficulties in the striker position left Luis Diaz to fill the role against Leverkusen. Diogo Jota is injured and Darwin Nunez remains as unreliable as ever, so Slot gave his Colombia winger a chance through the middle and was repaid with three goals.
His first finish was ever so brilliant, chipping Lukas Hradecky shortly after being played through on goal, while the two close-range efforts that followed showed the former Porto star’s predatory instincts in the penalty area.
He may not be Liverpool’s starting striker for the rest of the season, but Diaz already has nine goals this term – just four shy of what he managed throughout the whole of 2023/24.
Honourable mentions
Curtis Jones – 8/10
There are a number of more eye-catching names available to Slot in midfield, but it’s Curtis Jones who has arguably impressed more than any other player in the middle of the park in recent weeks.
The 23-year-old kept Cole Palmer quiet in a 2-1 win over Chelsea last month and followed up his assist against Brighton & Hove Albion by playing Diaz in for his first goal of the night.
He’ll continue to be rotated with the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, but Jones is carving out a place for himself at Anfield with some of his most consistent performances in a Liverpool shirt.
Mohamed Salah – 8/10
Mohamed Salah remains Liverpool’s best and most important player by some distance. He didn’t score on Wednesday night but took his assist tally up to nine in all competitions by setting up two goals at Anfield.
His cross for an initially disallowed Cody Gakpo header was fabulous and his ball in also helped Diaz get his second of the night.
The contract situation remains a puzzling one. Salah’s form has been incredible at the start of the campaign and the anxiety around his future will only increase the longer the uncertainty drags on.
But with showings like this, Liverpool will be forced into action sooner rather than later.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6/10
There can be no severe lambasting of Liverpool‘s starting XI given just how easily they surged to victory in the second half.
The least impressive of their stars was Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was missing his revered end product on Tuesday. The right-back got four shots away but couldn’t hit the target once, while his xA of just 0.03 shows he wasn’t at his creative best.
It’s hardly one for the England international to beat himself up about, but Alexander-Arnold will certainly hope for more distinctive outings in the future.
