Xabi Alonso makes 'painful' admission after Liverpool as 'power' message sent to Arne Slot

Xabi Alonso was pleased to make his return to Anfield but admitted that his Bayer Leverkusen team could not show enough "power" to get a positive result against Liverpool in the Champions League.

"First half, we were pretty good," Alonso said live on Amazon Prime post-match. "Second half, the first 10 minutes, we were not so good. We were not able to keep the ball that well and find players in the right positions.

"Our intensity in defense because of the lack of possession got a little bit lower, and we weren't squeezing that much, so that's how we conceded the first goal. And when you concede the second knock after two minutes, that was hard for us.

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"It is painful, the result more than the performance probably, but this is the Champions League. 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."

Quickfire goals from Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo snatched the control of the game away from Leverkusen. Diaz then added another two late on to complete his hat-trick and Alonso is convinced that Arne Slot's side has enough "power" to compete for big trophies this year.

"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.

"They are a very complete team. Between attack and defense, they work a lot, all 11 players. They are powerful in the boxes and that is very important in the Champions League — with not that much, they score four goals. That is a big strength in the Champions League — and in the Premier League, let's see."