Xabi Alonso pays classy Liverpool touch on return to Anfield with Bayer Leverkusen

Liverpool hero Xabi Alonso emerged to , giving a classy touch to the This Is Anfield sign in the tunnel before high-fiving a few fans sat near the entrance to the pitch.

A well-loved figure on Merseyside for his part in winning the biggest trophy in European soccer with the Reds in Istanbul in 2005, Alonso has become one of the leading coaches in the world since taking over at Bayer Leverkusen. And the Bundesliga champion will present a difficult test for Liverpool.

"It feels great," Alonso told Amazon Prime before kick-off. "It can't get much better than the Champions League at Anfield. I'm really looking forward to the game.

"We need to prepare the game and more focusing on the opponent. For sure, there is a moment when Anfield hits you that you need a plan, but it is more about the football and our idea. Liverpool is probably the best team in Europe but for us, it's a great game."

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