Liverpool continues to dominate in the new-look Champions League, with a commanding 4-0 win against Leverkusen at Anfield. Reds icon Xabi Alonso returns as Leverkusen's coach, making for an emotionally charged atmosphere. Leverkusen's head coach Arne Slot faces one of his most challenging assignments since taking over the team in the summer. Follow the Liverpool ECHO's coverage, including goal updates and reaction, to stay updated on all things LFC.
Liverpool Crushes Leverkusen in Champions League Clash
Liverpool continued their dominance in the revamped Champions League with a commanding 4-0 home victory against Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The match was filled with intrigue as Reds legend Xabi Alonso returned to Anfield as Leverkusen's coach, setting the stage for an emotional reunion.
Liverpool's victory extended their unbeaten streak in the Champions League to 12 matches, further solidifying their status as one of Europe's top clubs. The Reds were relentless in their attack, with goals from Roberto Firmino, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Nunez, and Cody Gakpo sealing the win.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen's defeat marked a setback in their European campaign. Despite a strong start under manager Arne Slot, the German club was outclassed by a rampant Liverpool side.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. Who scored the opening goal for Liverpool? Answer: Roberto Firmino
2. Which Liverpool player assisted on Trent Alexander-Arnold's goal? Answer: Darwin Nunez
3. Who is Leverkusen's new head coach? Answer: Xabi Alonso
4. How many Champions League matches has Liverpool gone unbeaten? Answer: 12
5. When was the last time Liverpool lost a home match in the Champions League? Answer: March 11, 2021, against Real Madrid
Background
The Champions League has undergone significant changes this season, with the introduction of a new format featuring 36 teams in a single league structure. This has created a more competitive and unpredictable tournament.
Liverpool has emerged as one of the early frontrunners in the competition, having won both of their opening fixtures. The Reds are looking to claim their seventh Champions League title, which would make them the most successful English club in the competition's history.
Leverkusen, on the other hand, is aiming to make a deep run in the tournament for the first time since reaching the final in 2002. The German club has a talented squad led by Florian Wirtz, Moussa Diaby, and Jeremie Frimpong.
The clash between Liverpool and Leverkusen was a rematch of their group stage meeting last season, which Liverpool won 2-1 at Anfield. The Reds will be hoping for a similar result when they travel to Leverkusen for the return fixture on October 11.
Rising Indian cricketer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, has made a shocking decision to leave Mumbai and join Goa in the upcoming domestic season, as he seeks a change for personal reasons. The left-handed opener, who has already shown great potential in international cricket, will now represent a lesser-known team in hopes of making a bigger impact. This move is unprecedented, especially considering Jaiswal's successful stint with Mumbai and a lack of big names in the Goa team. Fans eagerly await the results of this surprising shift.
After Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) faced their first eight-wicket home defeat during IPL 2025, team mentor Zaheer Khan expressed his dissatisfaction with the pitch conditions. He stated that the curator did not consider it a home game, and requested for more support from the home facilities in order for the team to perform better in their home ground. Despite expecting the track to favour spin bowling, LSG's decision to bring in M Siddharth instead of Prince Yadav backfired as PBKS's fast bowling group proved to be too much for them.
On Monday, Mumbai Indians' medium-pacer Ashwani Kumar, a 23-year-old from Punjab's Jhanjeri, became the first Indian ever to take four wickets on his Indian Premier League debut, helping his team to an easy win against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium. Despite appearing at trials for multiple IPL franchises, Ashwani's humble village background and love for classic Punjabi food kept him grounded and motivated for his record-breaking performance. Coach Varinder Singh worked with Ashwani to develop his skills, and his proud mother, Meena Kumari, shared his love for besan ka chilla and aloo parathas with the media after the match.
Batting superstar Virat Kohli recently expressed his criticism towards the BCCI's decision to limit family time on international tours. This move has caused controversy, with players feeling that it affects their focus and personal well-being. Yuvraj Singh's wife, Hazel Keech, has spoken out in support of the updated policy, stating that it benefits both players and their families. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has confirmed that the rule will remain in place for the time being, citing its importance to the country and the board.
After leading the Indian cricket team to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy, Virat Kohli has announced his next big goal - winning the ODI World Cup in 2027. Amid speculation about his potential retirement, Kohli made it clear that he is not looking to slow down anytime soon. Meanwhile, other Indian players, including Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, are set to retain their A+ grade contracts.
Pakistan's struggles continued in the second ODI against New Zealand as they lost seven wickets while chasing a target of 293. Star batter Babar Azam, who failed to perform in the first ODI, could only manage 1 run before being dismissed by Jacob Duffy. With fans and cricket enthusiasts expressing frustration over his ongoing struggles with the bat, the pressure is on Babar to deliver in the upcoming matches of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. Despite his form difficulties, many still believe that Babar's class is permanent and a big innings is just around the corner.
In a high-scoring and intense game, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets, 140-139, in double overtime. Despite a career-high 61 points from Nikola Jokic, the Timberwolves were able to rally and secure the win with two clutch free throws from Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The win also marks the Timberwolves' fourth consecutive victory over the Nuggets this season.
Nishant Dev, a young boxer from India, has recently turned professional after being inspired by legends like Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. The 23-year-old made his debut in the professional boxing world after falling in love with the sport while watching YouTube videos. Despite his loss in the Paris Olympics, Nishant's decision to go pro was not influenced by that defeat and he continues to train hard under the guidance of former American boxer Ronald Simms.
KKR all rounder Ramandeep Singh gives glowing praise to Mumbai Indians' Ashwani Kumar for his four-wicket haul in Mumbai's victory against Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 12 of the IPL 2025. Ashwani becomes the first player to achieve this feat on his IPL debut.
The Mumbai Indians started their IPL campaign with an 8-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders, with 23-year-old pacer Ashwani Kumar stealing the spotlight with his impressive performance. MI skipper Hardik Pandya praised the team's scouting efforts for discovering Kumar's talent, and highlighted his crucial wickets of Andre Russell and Quinton de Kock as the game-changers for the team. Fans can catch all the latest updates from IPL 2025 on News24, and follow them on social media for breaking news and updates.