Xabi Alonso was delighted to return to Liverpool but less pleased with his side's 4-0 defeat. Luis Diaz ran riot in the second half with the help of Curtis Jones.

Arne Slot vs. Xabi Alonso had the makings of an epic battle. In the end it was the Liverpool coach who cruised to victory against the man many believed was destined to take over at Anfield this season.

There was widely regarded to be only one man for the job when Jurgen Klopp announced his departure from Liverpool in January and on that day none outside the club were suggesting that it might be a Dutch coach from the little German border town of Bergentheim.