Kop's now or never for Xabi

IF Xabi Alonso can at last discard Bayer Leverkusen's cruel 'Neverkusen' tag, then it might just lead him back to Anfield.

- ALEX RICHARDS

And on the basis of Saturday's thumping 3-0 humbling of champions Bayern Munich, Liverpool chiefs cannot afford to wait to get a deal done.

The win over Bayern has put the Spaniard's high-flying Leverkusen side - who have never won the Bundesliga - in control of the title race.

They are yet to lose this season, winning 27 of their 31 matches, scoring 93 goals in the process.

Bayern were meant to be their biggest test, the team against whom their title hopes would come unstuck.

Instead, Harry Kane barely had a kick and Thomas Tuchel's side were efficiently disposed of at the BayArena.

"We did a great job," said Alonso (inset).

"The discipline and compactness of the team was great. The whole performance was great.

"All players showed top performances.