Arne Slot humbles Xabi Alonso as Liverpool routs Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 in the Champions League

Arne Slot vs. Xabi Alonso had makings of an epic battle.

In end it was Liverpool coach who cruised to victory against man many believed was destined to take over at Anfield this season.

A hat trick from Luis Diaz and a goal from Cody Gakpo saw Liverpool beat German champion Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 in Champions League on Tuesday and furr endear Slot to Merseyside club's fans, who joyously sang his name at end.

“People singing for a manr is t that common, at least t in Holland,” Slot said.

It all seems so easy for Dutchman, who replaced Jurgen Klopp in summer and has led Liverpool to top of Premier League and w Champions League after an outstanding start to his reign.

That's win number 14 from his 16 games in charge, but this felt particularly symbolic, given his rival in opposition dugout.

Slot seems too level-headed to have concerned himself with subplot of facing Alonso, who is arguably most sought-after young coach in Europe and someone who was considered a leading candidate to succeed Klopp at Liverpool.

A former Champions League-winning player for club, stars seemed to align when Klopp made surprise anuncement in January that he would step down at end of last season. At that time Alonso was well on way to leading Leverkusen to an undefeated domestic campaign and a German league and cup double .

Slot's name seemed a long way from conversation.

Wind clock forward and Alonso, who was also linked ar his former clubs, Bayern Munich, shut down talk of moving anywhere when declaring he would remain at Leverkusen.

Liverpool looked elsewhere, Slot was man chosen to succeed Klopp and it could hardly have gone better for him or club.

former Feyeord coach is making light work of filling void left by an Anfield icon and one of most successful manrs of his generation. se are early days, but Liverpool looks ready to challenge for biggest titles right from off under new manr.

Instead of feeling pressure of living up to standards set by Klopp, who won a full set of trophies, including Premier League and Champions, Slot is embracing it.

“We want to be re where we are w, we want to compete for everything,” he said. “refore you have to accept that if you work here or play here, that re’s pressure.”

Leverkusen may t be force it was last season, having won just three of its last nine games in all competitions, but this was still a hugely impressive result for Slot's team.

It was Leverkusen's heaviest loss in more than two years — since a 5-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in Alonso's third game in charge.

“It can happen that you come to Anfield and lose. To lose 4-0 is t nice. y are a top, top team and y punished us," Alonso said.

re was potential for a very different narrative on night. One where Alonso — whose name was also sung by home crowd — made a triumphant return and showed Liverpool what y might have had if he'd been one to succeed Klopp.

And even in defeat, his reputation remains high after leading Leverkusen to its first German title and ending Bayern's 11-year reign as champion. Only a loss to Atalanta in final of Europa League prevented him from completing a trophy treble.

Little wonder he has been talked of as a future manr of Europe's grandest clubs, including Real Madrid.

But Liverpool looks to be in good hands with Slot, whose rise has been more understated.

Despite winning Dutch league with Feyeord, he was t an obvious choice to step into Klopp's shoes.

He doesn't exude same charisma as German on sidelines. He doesn't fire up crowd or players with type chest thumping that Klopp was famed for.

Yet he has quietly taken to job with impressive ease and his team is doing its talking on field.

A record of eight wins from 10 in Premier League has Liverpool leading way ahead of four-time defending champion Manchester City .

A 100% start in Champions League w leaves rest of Europe's top clubs in Liverpool's wake — City and reigning champion Real Madrid included.

“Things have gone so well with new manr, it wasn’t easy for him to come in and fill Jurgen Klopp’s shoes,” Diaz said. “Hopefully, we’ll have something to show for it at end of season.”