Xabi Alonso returns to his former club for the first time as a manager when his Bayer Leverkusen team head to Merseyside to face Liverpool in the Champions League.
The hosts are currently second in the new league format, after three wins from three, but their German opponents could provide their toughest test yet (Tuesday, 8pm – Prime Video).
At one stage last summer it looked like Alonso could be heading to Anfield to replace Jurgen Klopp as manager of Liverpool.
The Spaniard, who spent five years with the Reds as a player, decided instead to stay on at Leverkusen, having led them to a first-ever Bundesliga title and last season’s Europa League final.
Alonso would have been the first-choice pick for many Reds’ supporters, but Arne Slot hasn’t taken long to win over the Anfield faithful.
Liverpool currently sit top of the Premier League and head into Gameweek Four of the Champions League sat second, after a 100% start to their European campaign.
Leverkusen have also made a solid start to the new format, with seven points from their opening three games – leaving them in sixth place.
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Tip 1: Draw @ 10/3
The German outfit are currently fourth in their domestic league, following a 0-0 home draw with Stuttgart on Friday.
That is one of three draws in their last four fixtures, which includes a 1-1 scoreline in their last Champions League clash at Brest in Gameweek Three.
After drawing at Arsenal on October 27th, Liverpool have claimed back-to-back wins over Brighton, in the EFL Cup and Premier League.
With these two sides in a strong position to finish in the top eight of the standings, a draw wouldn’t be the worst for either team in their pursuit to automatically qualify for the last 16.
Tip 2: First Goalscorer – Florian Wirtz @ 13/1
Liverpool’s only defeat of the season to date came on home soil, when Nottingham Forest won 1-0 at Anfield back in September.
That was one of three home games in all competitions when the Reds conceded first – with Brighton opening the scoring on Saturday and West Ham breaking the deadlock in the EFL Cup, before eventually losing 5-1.
Bournemouth lost 3-0 at Anfield on September 21st, but had a goal ruled out within the first 15 minutes with a narrow offside decision going in the favour of Slot’s men.
So, it wouldn’t be a major surprise if Leverkusen were to hit the front on Tuesday evening, particularly when you consider their attacking threat.
Alonso’s squad have scored six times in their first three European games this season and have averaged 2.22 goals per game in their opening nine Bundesliga matches.
One man to consider in the goal markets is Florian Wirtz, who has established himself as a regular in the Germany national team.
Playing behind a main striker, the 21-year-old has already got four league goals to his name this term and scored the opener in the draw in France in Gameweek Three.
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