Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen predicted lineups and team news | OneFootball

Two teams with aspirations of going deep in their season’s Champions League meet on Tuesday evening, as Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen clash at Anfield.

Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen predicted lineups

Liverpool (4-3-3): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister; Diaz, Nunez, Salah

Bayer Leverkusen (3-4-2-1): Hradecky; Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie; Hoffman, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo; Frimpong, Wirtz; Boniface

It’s the hosts who have the edge in the current league standings, with the Reds claiming a maximum nine points from their opening three games.

Leverkusen, who were beaten Europa League finalists last season, have collected seven points to date as they prepare to head to Merseyside in the 8pm kick-off, live on Prime Video.

Alonso returns to former club

Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso spent five years at Liverpool as a player, lifting the Champions League and FA Cup during his stint at Anfield.

The Spaniard is held in high regard by the Reds supporters and it looked like he was the front-runner to replace Jurgen Klopp in the summer.

Alonso, though, decided to stay at Leverkusen and the Liverpool owners looked to Arne Slot instead, with the Dutchman making an immediate impact.

Under Slot’s guidance the Reds are top of the Premier League and have a perfect European record going into gameweek four.

Ironically, the last time these two teams met in a competitive fixture, Alonso was a Liverpool player, although he missed the two-legged affair due to injury.

It was the Premier League side that won that Champions League last 16 clash 6-2 on aggregate. The Reds won 3-1 at Anfield before also securing a 3-1 success in Germany in the second leg.

Liverpool have the overall edge in the head-to-head stats, winning three of their previous four meetings, with Leverkusen’s only win (4-2) coming on home soil in April 2002.

Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen team news

Liverpool are still missing three first-team squad members through injury – Alisson, Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliott.

Slot, who might also have one eye on the weekend’s league clash with Aston Villa, says all three won’t be able to return to action until after November’s international break.

There is better news for the Reds though, with Ibrahima Konate declaring himself fit to feature after injuring his wrist in the 2-1 win over Brighton.

Cody Gakpo was given the nod ahead of Luis Diaz as one of the attacking three against the Seagulls, so the Colombian may be handed a start on Tuesday.

Leverkusen frontman Victor Boniface should feature after the Nigerian forward missed the draw with Brest in gameweek three.

Amine Adli is missing until the new year due to injury, but Martin Terrier should return to the squad despite sitting out Friday’s 0-0 draw with Stuttgart.

French defensive duo Jeanuel Belocian and Nordi Mukiele will also miss out due to recent injury issues.