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.
Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra criticizes people for jumping to conclusions about Shubman Gill's performance after just a few matches in the unpredictable T20 format. Despite a strong comeback in the Asia Cup as vice-captain, Gill's accumulated 181 runs in the last 10 games with a strike rate below 140. Nehra believes that the tendency to judge players solely based on numbers is a major issue in Indian cricket and sarcastically suggests alternative options if changes are deemed necessary.
Andhra's Nitish Kumar Reddy, who recently represented India in Tests and ODIs, showed his talent with a hat-trick against Madhya Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super League stage. Despite his impressive performance, MP was able to chase down a modest target of 113 thanks to a composed 73-run partnership between Rishabh Chouhan and Rahul Batham. MP secured a four-wicket victory with 15 balls to spare and earned four crucial points.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, who recently rejoined the Andhra team after the India-South Africa ODI series, put on a sensational bowling performance in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh. He took a hat-trick by dismissing Harsh Gawli, Harpreet Bhatia, and Rajat Patidar on the final three balls of the third over of the run-chase. Along with his impressive bowling, Reddy also made a useful contribution with the bat, scoring 25 runs off 27 balls.
In a heartwarming moment at the New Chandigarh Stadium, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh slipped into the Indian team's pre-match huddle to deliver a motivational talk, just moments after a stand in his name was unveiled. He expressed his pride in the team's growth and predicted their success in the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2026. Despite being on the other side, Yuvraj continues to support and inspire his former teammates.
Indian teenager Vaibhav Suryavanshi stole the show in the opening game of the U19 Asia Cup with a record-breaking knock of 171 runs off just 95 deliveries at a strike rate of 180. Suryavanshi smashed 14 sixes, surpassing Michael Hill's 17-year-old record, as he led India U19 to a massive total of 433 runs in their 50 overs. The 14-year-old's performance broke a record that stood for 17 years and he just missed out on becoming the player with the highest individual score for India in Youth ODIs by seven runs.
Indian batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi showcased his incredible form as he smashed a brilliant hundred off just 56 balls in India's first match of the Under-19 Asia Cup against UAE. The star left-handed batsman hit 5 fours and 9 sixes, helping India bounce back from a shaky start and set up a dominating victory. This is Suryavanshi's fourth century this year, and his first in a List A tournament, adding to his impressive record of three T20 centuries.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a young star cricketer from India, made a massive impact in his first game of the U19 Asia Cup tournament against the UAE. Suryavanshi, known for his aggressive batting, scored a century in just 56 deliveries and went on to notch up 150 runs in the first innings. This talented player, who made his IPL debut earlier this year, shows no signs of slowing down and is a name to watch out for in the world of cricket.
In a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match between Andhra and Madhya Pradesh, Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy made headlines when he took a hat-trick for Andhra. Reddy's exceptional bowling skills earned him the wickets of Harsh Gawli, Harpreet Bhatia, and Rajat Patidar, all in the final three deliveries of the third over of MP's innings. This impressive feat has garnered praise from fans and fellow players alike, solidifying Reddy's position as a top performer in domestic cricket.
The ongoing T20I series between India and South Africa has put the spotlight on the major debate regarding who should open the batting with Abhishek Sharma. Despite Sanju Samson's exceptional form in 2024 where he scored three T20I hundreds as opener, vice-captain Shubman Gill has been given the spot ahead of him. However, Yadav's explanation for this strange decision is questionable, given Gill's recent failures compared to Samson's impressive numbers. With Gill's spot in the team now in question, it remains to be seen if the 26-year-old can retain his position given Samson's strong claim for the opener's spot.
Actress-model Mahieka Sharma, who is in a relationship with cricketer Hardik Pandya, took to Instagram to congratulate her boyfriend on his major feat in T20I cricket. The duo has been in the news for their romance, with Mahieka often sharing photos and posts of the couple on her social media. However, Hardik recently took to his Instagram to express his anger towards media for clicking photos of Mahieka from inappropriate angles, calling for basic respect and boundaries towards women. Mahieka, on the other hand, hailed her boyfriend's achievement in the T20I match against South Africa and posted his stills with a sweet caption.