Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen LIVE: Champions League team news and line-up as Gakpo and Diaz start

Bayer Leverkusen XI: Hradecky; Frimpong, Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie, Grimaldo; Palacios, Xhaka; Wirtz, Boniface, Garcia

Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz

Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk are out of contract at the end of the season and are currently negotiating renewals. Arne Slot was asked whether the players were thinking about leaving and if he had spoken to them about their future.

He replied: “I haven’t spoken about him [Salah], we’ve spoken about Leverkusen because that team deserves all of our attention for the quality they have. So, no.

“He is out of contract in the end of the season and Virgil [van Dijk] said something in the press and now he [Salah] has a post that you interpreted in a certain way.

“This will probably continue for as long as their futures are not clear yet. But in the meantime, let’s hope that they bring in performances like Mo had and Virgil had as well during the weekend.”

Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher said: “I think the fans will give him a great reception, but the focus is on getting a result and making sure he doesn’t go home happy.”

Around the turn of the year, when five of the major European clubs were looking for new managerial candidates, one official involved in elite-level recruitment let out a sigh. “There is nothing in football as difficult as choosing a coach,” came the complaint.

The frustration was from the fact that there are so many variables, especially when a manager moves from one financial tier to another. They might have the right style but not the right personality. They might fit the tactics but not the culture.

Although clubs are trying to add some science to this, feeding details through algorithms, there’s still a huge element of human trial and error. You can’t always account for how a manager’s approach translates to a different dressing room.

Xabi Alonso led Bayer Leverkusen to one of the all-time great seasons in 2023/24 with the German club only losing one game in all competitions.

They won their first Bundesliga title, ending Bayern Munich’s 11-year dominance of the league, as part of the German double which saw them collect the German Cup as well.

That lone defeat came against Atalanta in the Europa League final which denied Alonso and his team a well deserved treble.

Though they have not hit those same heights this season they are unbeaten in 11 games and will be confident of earning three points against a Liverpool side still in the early stages of Arne Slot’s tenure.

Caoimhin Kelleher is excited for his ‘special moment’ when he steps out onto the pitch to take part in a big European night at Anfield.

Liverpool’s goalkeeper said: “I’ve experienced quite a few European nights at Anfield, not playing, but it’s always electric.

“It will be a special moment and one I’m looking forward to, for sure. The Champions League is the Champions League: it’s one of the biggest competitions.

“We have a good history in the competition, so the motivation is there.”

Caoimhin Kelleher took the pre-match press conference alongside Arne Slot and admitted to liking the new Champions League format especially as it means playing against more teams from the continent.

He said: “It’s a bit different. I personally quite like it, playing different teams on each occasion is kind of cool. You’re going away to different stadiums too, which is nice. It’s cool to play more teams.”

The Liverpool boss also gave his thoughts on the new Champions League format and explained a few of the positives. He said: “When you play now, every tie is a new opponent.

“You can be lucky or unlucky and then it has to do with which teams you face at home or away. What I love is every evening I can switch to a game that is really a nice one to watch.”

Liverpool manager Arne Slot spoke ahead of tonight’s match and laid out what he is expecting from the game. He said: “It is a big European game which is almost always the situation when you play the Champions League.

“Mainly also for what Xabi Alonso did for this club, especially in Europe as well. Domestically and in Europe last season, they were incredible.

“I think this season they are just as good but a bit more unlucky when it comes to results. It’s a big game to look forward to for people who love the game.”