ALIVE AND CHIPPING

Diaz treble blows away Alonso's men

- CHRIS MCKENNA

FIREWORKS lit up the Anfield sky on a night Liverpool sparked into life in the second half again to ensure this was a nightmare return to Merseyside for Xabi Alonso.

This time it was a superb Luis Diaz hattrick and a Cody Gakpo effort that fired up the Reds and sent them soaring to the top of the Champions League table.

It was not a good night for Alonso as he watched his Bayer Leverkusen side lose just their third game in 69 after they got blown away in the second half.

The Spaniard’s best memories of here will remain those when he was wearing the red shirt rather than in the dugout. This was a night to forget for him.

Liverpool saw off the German champions in style after the break following a tight and tense first half.

It was not a replica of Saturday when they came from behind to beat Brighton here.

But just like they did in that Premier League game, they lit up this game with two quick-fire goals. Just after the hour, Diaz and Gakpo scored with seconds between them before the Colombian got two more late on.