Carragher thought Liverpool ace was “silly”, now he seems undroppable

Liverpool made it 4 wins from 4 within the Champions League final night time, securing a convincing 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield.

Arne Slot’s facet presently sit prime of the league part, after a hat-trick from Luis Diaz and one different aim from Cody Gakpo, punishing the opposition led by former Pink Xabi Alonso.

After the 4 encounters, the Reds have scored ten instances and conceded simply as soon as as they proceed their wonderful begin to life below the Dutchman since his appointment over the summer season.

His facet have nonetheless solely misplaced one outing in all competitions, falling to a 1-0 defeat towards Nottingham Forest, highlighting how a lot of an instantaneous impression the 46-year-old has had on Merseyside.

Final night time was no totally different, with a number of first-team members starring all through and producing some spectacular figures throughout their varied performances.

Liverpool’s star performers towards Leverkusen

As beforehand talked about, Colombian winger Diaz grabbed himself his first hat-trick as a Liverpool participant, having a big impact on the European encounter.

Alongside together with his three strikes, the 27-year-old additionally accomplished 88% of the passes he tried, with two of them going into the ultimate third – trying to create alternatives for his teammates regardless of his wonderful kind in entrance of aim.

Nonetheless, midfielder Curtis Jones justified his recall to the beginning lineup final night time, producing a spectacular show and controlling the center of the park for Slot’s males.

The 23-year-old returned to the beginning eleven after being utilised instead through the Premier League win over Brighton on the weekend, taking his alternative with each palms.

The academy graduate featured for 74 minutes final night time, offering a pinpoint go to Diaz for the opening aim, showcasing his wonderful skill to pick his teammate and create clear-cut alternatives within the closing third.

Nonetheless, he additionally impressed defensively, profitable 80% of the duels he entered, making one interception and two recoveries, as he additionally helped keep yet one more clear sheet for the Reds.

Regardless of Diaz and Jones’ respective shows for Slot’s facet at Anfield, there was one other expertise who produced an evening to recollect within the Champions League.

The Liverpool expertise who impressed towards Leverkusen

After becoming a member of the membership again in 2020 from Greek facet Olympiacos, left-back Konstantinos Tsimikas has typically been used as a backup to Andy Robertson, having to accept minutes off the bench or in cup competitions.

Throughout his first few seasons on Merseyside, he struggled massively, with club-legend Jamie Carragher dubbing the 28-year-old “silly” following the draw with Luton City final season, amid a reckless problem from the defender.

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He additionally got here below hearth from one in every of Carragher’s former teammates, Steve McMananan, through the shock 3-2 defeat to Toulouse within the Europa League final time period during which Tsimikas was hooked at half-time, with the TNT pundit stating that he merely “fell asleep” for the Ligue 1 facet’s opener.

Nonetheless, new boss Slot handed him a second successive begin final night time, producing an unimaginable show and now wanting undroppable, with Robertson undoubtedly struggling to dislodge the full-back.

Tsimikas featured for 80 minutes, starring defensively and proscribing the opposition from creating any actual clear-cut probabilities down the right-hand facet.

He made 4 interceptions and gained one deal with as he helped protect the clear sheet, their third of the Champions League marketing campaign to this point this season.

The complete-back additionally accomplished 90% of the passes, while additionally profitable 100% of duels and finishing 100% of the dribbles he tried – having an impression at each ends of the pitch for the Reds.

Given his show, Slot could discover it tough to drop Tsimikas from his beginning lineup forward of the assembly with Aston Villa on Saturday night time.

It’s nice to see a participant taking his alternative within the squad with each palms, resurrecting his Liverpool profession with many considering at one stage he may’ve been set for the exit door.

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90% passing, 100% dribbles: 8/10 Liverpool star was simply nearly as good as Diaz

Liverpool swept Bayer Leverkusen apart with a rip-roaring Champions League win.