Xabi Alonso admitted Bayer Leverkusen couldn't cope with the Anfield atmosphere as Liverpool ran out 4-0 winners

Xabi Alonso looks on after the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool(Image: Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)

Xabi Alonso admits Bayer Leverkusen couldn’t cope with the Anfield atmosphere as Liverpool ensured a miserable return to Merseyside for their former midfielder.

The Reds earned an impressive 4-0 win over the Bundesliga champions to continue the 100% start to their Champions League campaign.

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After a goalless first half, Luis Diaz scored a first-ever hat-trick for the club while Cody Gakpo netted his fourth goal in a week.

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There were just two minutes between Liverpool’s first two goals with Leverkusen, similar to Brighton in the Reds’ 2-1 Premier League win on Saturday, being swept away by a vibrant Anfield.

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And Alonso said: “I can say many things, we can explain many things (to the players) but to control this atmosphere that is created (at Anfield)...

“I know the feeling, that the Liverpool players, they feel it.

It’s an extra boost they feel, ‘now is the moment, now they are behind us, now we go’.

“To defend in those moments isn’t easy.

Like Brighton on Saturday, to say it in words is one thing, it’s much more difficult to control it on the pitch.

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“Against top, top teams you have to go through those difficult moments.

We are not happy today but it’s not the end of the world.

“Today it will be tougher to sleep but tomorrow we will be thinking about the next one.”

Alonso was given a warm reception by the Anfield crowd, who chanted his name during the closing moments of the game.

The Spaniard later acknowledged the Liverpool supporters after the final whistle.

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And he added: “It was a good reception.

I have bitter feelings with the game which means I can’t enjoy the reception too much, but I really appreciated it and was thankful that even after so many years that I come here and I have the bond with the club.

“It was nice but it would have been nicer with a better result and we will have to move on.”