LFC CHRISTMAS GIFTS

UP THE REDS!
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, October 2, 2024: Liverpool's Luis Díaz celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League game between Liverpool FC and Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Luis Diaz stars with 9.2 average rating vs. Leverkusen – but 2 others not far behind!

Luis Diaz earned a sensational overall rating after his hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen, but there was surprise player in second place.

The Reds dismantled Xabi Alonso’s Bundesliga champions on Tuesday night, winning 4-0 after a blistering second-half performance.

The opening 45 minutes may have been forgettable, but Diaz’s hat-trick and a Cody Gakpo header saw Anfield at its electrifying best.

Here we compare our player ratings with those of the Liverpool Echo, GOAL, FotMob and This Is Anfield’s readers.

Diaz (9.2) went into this season with some doubters, but it’s fair to say he has silenced them emphatically.

The Colombian bagged his first-ever hat-trick on Tuesday, excelling in a central role and taking each goal well.

Ian Doyle of the Echo said that Diaz played with the “confidence of a number nine,” while GOAL’s Gill Clark described it as a “deadly showing.”

Despite attackers shining and midfielders growing into the game, it was Ibrahima Konate (8.2) who was second in the ratings.

The 25-year-old overcame a wrist issue to produce an excellent showing, with This Is Anfield‘s Mark Delgado lauding him for doing “absolutely everything” to “shut down” Leverkusen’s attack.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 05: Luis Diaz of Liverpool poses for a photo after being awarded the PlayStation Player of the Match at full-time following the team's victory in the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 05, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, FotMob pointed out that Konate made six defensive actions and seven recoveries – both the joint-most of any Liverpool player – highlighting his dominance at Anfield.

Mohamed Salah (8.1) may not have bagged his 50th Champions League goal, but he chipped in with two assists to add to his collection.

His first for Gakpo was beautiful in its execution and Doyle felt that it was the Egyptian’s “relentlessness” that ensured he got the better of Piero Hincapie.

The lowest score of the night went to Alexis Mac Allister (6.6), who did a solid job but is still well short of his best form.