Xabi Alonso heads back to former side Liverpool as Bayer Leverkusen take on Arne Slot’s team in UEFA Champions League action on November 5.
Alonso was heavily linked with a return to Merseyside at the start of 2024, following Jurgen Klopp’s decision to step down at Anfield, before the appointment of Slot.
The decision to remain in Leverkusen kept Alonso’s team on track to secure a first-ever Bundesliga title with his contract running until 2026.
As part of a sliding doors moment in Leverkusen and Liverpool, Alonso is now rumoured to be considering a future move to Real Madrid, with Slot enjoying a superb start to life as Klopp’s successor.
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Liverpool have won all three Champions League games under Slot so far this season and they currently lead the Premier League by two points following a 2-1 weekend win over Brighton & Hove Albion.
Leverkusen are unbeaten in the Champions League ahead of the trip to Liverpool, with seven points from three matches, but they are 13 points adrift of Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich after one win in their last five league games.
Liverpool vs. Bayer Leverkusen lineups, confirmed starting 11, team news
Slot has confirmed no change on the statutes of Diogo Jota, Federico Chiesa, Harvey Elliott and Alisson Becker who will all remain sidelined until after the November international break.
The Dutch coach said Ibrahima Konate was in a ‘good place’ to start, despite being forced off at half-time against Brighton, with an elbow injury and duly did so.
Kostas Tsimikas is preferred to Andy Robertson at left-back with Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo completing the front three alongside Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool (4-3-3, right to left): Kelleher (GK) — Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas — Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister — Salah, Gakpo, Diaz.
Injured: Chiesa, Alisson, Jota, ElliottSuspended: None
Alonso is without Nordi Mukiele and Jeanuel Belocian through injury and Amine Adil is a long-term absentee.
Former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka is a familiar foe for Liverpool and lines up alongside Argentina’s Exequiel Palacios in central midfield.
Bayer Leverkusen (3-4-3, right to left): Hradecky (GK) — Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie — Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo — Wirtz, Boniface, Frimpong.
Injured: Mukiele, Belocian, Adil.Suspended: None
Liverpool vs. Bayer Leverkusen live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Champions League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| USA | — | Paramount+, ViX |
| Canada | — | DAZN |
| UK | — | Amazon Prime Video |
| Australia | — | Stan Sport |
| India | Sony Ten 2, 3 | Sony LIV, JioTV |
