Xabi Alonso’s long-anticipated return to Anfield is set for Tuesday evening, as his Bayer Leverkusen team takes on Liverpool in a thrilling Champions League showdown.Liverpool come into this game with a perfect record, having won all three of their opening matches in the 2024-25 competition. However, their sixth-placed German opponents could overtake them in the Champions League standings with a victory on Merseyside.Liverpool 🆚 LeverkusenXabi Alonso returns to Anfield 🤩#UCL pic.twitter.com/34RoKRHvn0— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 4, 2024 After Jurgen Klopp’s surprise resignation in January, Liverpool fans eagerly anticipated the prospect of Alonso stepping into the managerial role. Yet, Alonso declined offers from Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid to remain with the “Bundesliga Invincibles.” Ultimately, the Reds turned to Arne Slot, who has exceeded expectations in his debut season.Liverpool have already dispatched AC Milan, Bologna, and RB Leipzig in their European campaign, with Darwin Nunez securing a 1-0 win over Leipzig in October, putting them just behind Aston Villa in the Champions League rankings. Domestically, Slot’s side showed resilience in Saturday’s Premier League clash against Brighton & Hove Albion. After a shaky first half, goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah turned the game around, securing a hard-fought 2-1 win.This will be Livepool’s season, this is a crucial proof of itWith Manchester City and Arsenal both dropping points over the weekend, Liverpool now lead the Premier League, sitting two points above the defending champions after a stellar run of 10 wins in their last 11 games. Slot’s impact is evident as he’s guided Liverpool to five consecutive home victories with a minimum of two goals scored in each, and a win on Tuesday would mark only the second time they’ve won their first four Champions League games in a season, the last being in 2021-22.Leverkusen, who narrowly missed a historic treble last season after falling to Ademola Lookman’s brilliance in the Europa League final, have also started strongly in Europe this season. They have accumulated seven points from their first three Champions League games, defeating Feyenoord and AC Milan before a frustrating draw with Brest.Despite their form, Leverkusen have struggled to convert matches into wins recently, recording three draws in their last four outings, including a scoreless affair against Stuttgart on Friday. While they now trail Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich by seven points, the draw extended their impressive 11-game unbeaten run across all competitions. Notably, Alonso’s side have yet to suffer a road defeat this season, winning their first four away matches and drawing the last three.##EDITORS_CHOICE##This will be the first meeting between Liverpool and Leverkusen since the 2004-05 Champions League, when Liverpool advanced with two 3-1 wins in the round of 16 before eventually lifting the trophy. Alonso, however, missed both legs against his future club due to a broken ankle.Liverpool’s weekend win was tempered by the loss of Ibrahima Konate, who left the game with an arm injury and was seen using his shirt as a makeshift sling. Fortunately, Konate has recovered swiftly and will be available on Tuesday. However, Liverpool will still be without Alisson Becker (hamstring), Harvey Elliott (foot), Federico Chiesa (fitness), and Diogo Jota (abdominal strain).Mohamed Salah, fresh off surpassing Robbie Fowler to claim eighth place in the all-time Premier League scoring charts, could become the first player in 21 years to score in six consecutive Champions League home games for an English team, emulating Ruud van Nistelrooy’s feat for Manchester United in 2003.The Xabi Alonso Derby. 🤩@R1medi previews tonight’s blockbuster clash between Liverpool and Leverkusen in 60 seconds. ⏰— Squawka (@Squawka) November 5, 2024 Leverkusen are dealing with injury setbacks of their own, as wing-back Nordi Mukiele remains sidelined with a thigh injury and is expected to return after the international break. He joins Amine Adli (broken leg) and Jeanuel Belocian (foot) on the injured list, while Martin Terrier, who missed the game against Stuttgart, has not traveled to England.In Mukiele’s absence, Jeremie Frimpong will likely step in at right-back, while Alonso could bring Jonas Hofmann into the attack. Young star Florian Wirtz, aiming to continue his impressive form, could become the third player aged 21 or under — following Erling Haaland and Manor Solomon — to score in his first three Champions League away appearances.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – ROUND 4Tuesday20:45: (1.77) PSV (3.80) Girona (4.50)20:45: (4.00) Slovan B. (3.60) Dinamo Zagreb (2.00)23:00: (2.80) Bologna (3.40) Monaco (2.65)23:00: (2.75) Celtic (3.45) RB Leipzig (2.50)23:00: (1.20) Dortmund (7.25) Sturm (12.0)23:00: (3.10) Lille (3.30) Juventus (2.50)23:00: (1.80) Liverpool (4.10) Leverkusen (4.40)23:00: (1.48) Real Madrid (5.00) Milan (6.70)23:00: (4.00) Sporting (3.60) Man.City (2.00)Wednesday20:45: (3.50) Club Brugge (3.45) Aston Villa (2.10)20:45: (2.05) Shakhtar (3.45) Young Boys (3.60)23:00: (1.35) Bayern (5.80) Benfica (9.00)23:00: (18.0) Crvena Zvezda (7.20) Barcelona (1.20)23:00: (1.60) Feyenoord (4.00) Salzburg (5.70)23:00: (2.65) Inter (3.35) Arsenal (2.85)23:00: (1.73) PSG (3.75) Atl.Madrid (4.80)23:00: (2.45) Sparta Praha (3.35) Brest (2.90)23:00: (2.45) Stuttgart (3.75) Atalanta (2.85)***odds are subject to change***
