Bayer Leverkusen is struggling to reach the high standards it set for itself last season. Xabi Alonso’s team has already dropped points in five of its nine Bundesliga games, while Tuesday’s 4-0 loss at Liverpool in the Champions League was already its second defeat of the season.

Alonso, who scored in the final when Liverpool won the competition in 2005, has the chance to end that perfect start when the Reds host Leverkusen in their fourth Champions League game on Tuesday. Slot has heaped praise on Alonso ahead of his first game at Anfield as a manager, describing the Spaniard as “special”.