What Xabi Alonso was heard saying at Anfield before losing to Liverpool

Liverpool welcomed Xabi Alonso back to Anfield midweek with Luis Diaz scoring a hat-trick and Cody Gakpo also getting on the scoresheet. And the former Reds midfielder was delighted to be back on Merseyside.

Alonso, who has established himself as one of the best coaches in the world since transforming Bayer Leverkusen from a relegation-threatened side to an unbeaten Bundesliga champion, had not been back to Liverpool for a professional game since leaving to sign for Real Madrid. He was given a warm welcome, even though he wouldn't have enjoyed how the match panned out.

On a YouTube video put out by Bayer Leverkusen, Alonso could be heard saying "Always a Scouser, still a Red!". He said hello to various staff members who he hasn't seen for a good while.

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"It is painful, the result more than the performance probably, but this is the Champions League," Alonso told TNT Sports post-match. "This is the highest level. It wasn't enough for us.

"It can happen at Anfield that you lose and for sure to lose 4-0 it is not nice. It is hard because at 2-0 we were trying to fight for the one ball that would give us hope. But Liverpool with spaces, they are a top team for that and we were punished for the last two goals.

"It was a risk we had to take but before that, it was a pity. If we managed 1-0 for 15-20 minutes and not straight to 2-0, we were alive and anything could happen."

"We were ready to come here to show a performance and give our best," Alonso continued. "I think we did OK in some parts but the game changed completely after those few minutes.

"They are really strong and in this competition, you need to be very decisive in the boxes and that's maybe where we lacked a little bit of power and consistency. But anyway, we accept it, congratulate Liverpool, and move on.

"I will try to separate the game and the pain of the result from the nice feelings to come back and be able to say hi. For sure, I would have loved another result but I am happy for the reception."

Liverpool.com says: Alonso becoming the head coach of the Reds at some point would be no shock, though it won't be any time soon, as superb as his managerial career has been so far. Arne Slot has started brilliantly and Liverpool will hope he stays around and is successful for years to come.