Arne Slot insisted he’ll proceed to take a look at “one sport at a time” after main Liverpool to a 4-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen within the Champions League on Tuesday.
Luis Diaz’s second-half hat-trick together with Cody Gakpo’s 63rd-minute strike spoiled Xabi Alonso’s Anfield return, shifting the Reds high of the 36-team standings.
Liverpool have now received all 4 of their Champions League video games underneath Slot. It’s solely the second time that they’ve received all 4 opening video games in a single season of the competitors.
The Reds are actually high of each the Premier League and Champions League tables, although Slot was eager to give attention to the subsequent job, which comes within the form of Aston Villa on Saturday.
“I don’t know if it was that a lot to do with depth, however we took extra threat,” Slot stated.
“They overloaded the midfield quite a bit, and we adjusted at half-time and took the danger to play one v one throughout. We had higher probabilities within the first half they usually weren’t a aim menace.
“As a lot as this time, how good they’re in Europe, typically a powerful goal man is best than somebody a bit sooner.
“Curtis Jones did an unbelievable move, after which you will have somebody with the tempo of Lucho to complete it off. The move was nearly as good because the aim, in my view.
“You don’t look forward as a supervisor within the subsequent three months. You’re all the time one sport at a time. We’ve bought Aston Villa on Saturday, one other powerful sport.”
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 5, 2024
Diaz’s treble noticed him grow to be solely the second Colombian participant to attain a hat-trick within the Champions League, after Faustino Asprilla for Newcastle towards Barcelona in 1997.
And he insisted that issues have began brightly for Slot at Anfield, however stated his team-mates should proceed to carry out to have one thing to point out for it on the finish of the season.
“An important factor is the three factors on this version of the Champions League so we will preserve progressing within the competitors,” Diaz stated.
“Issues have gone so effectively with the brand new supervisor, it wasn’t simple for him to return in and fill Jurgen Klopp’s footwear.
“Hopefully, we’ll have one thing to point out for it on the finish of the season.
“We’ve got top-quality gamers all around the pitch and I actually loved taking part in in that place right now. I’m simply comfortable to be on the pitch.
“I must go and discover that ball now as a result of I must preserve it someplace particular at residence.”
Lucho’s first hat-trick for the Reds pic.twitter.com/BRtD5npq98
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 5, 2024
For Leverkusen, in the meantime, it marked a primary Champions League defeat since 2022, whereas in addition they conceded 4 or extra objectives in an away match within the competitors for the primary time since a 4-2 loss towards Manchester United in 2013.
“It’s painful the outcome greater than the efficiency, most likely,” Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso instructed Amazon Prime.
“However that is the Champions League, that is the very best degree, and right now it wasn’t sufficient for us.”
However Alonso, who was among the many favourites to take over from Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool in the summertime, was complimentary of Slot’s revolution on Merseyside.
“It’s too early to inform, however I can see that Liverpool have an excellent steadiness, a really full workforce,” he stated.
“They work with 11 gamers, they usually have the ability to carry a clear sheet, which is necessary within the Champions League.
“Within the Premier League, let’s see. It’s early to inform however it’s trying good.”
Alonso, who received the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, was additionally serenaded by the house supporters at Anfield in the course of the contest.
“I attempted to separate the sport and the ache from the outcome from the great emotions to return again. I’m actually comfortable and grateful for that reception,” Alonso concluded.
