"It feels good to be back here but I don't want it to be about me, it's about the match tomorrow and the players," stressed Xabi Alonso at the start of the press conference. "I've not thought about it that much in the run-up. My thoughts have been more on optimum preparation for the game."
Granit Xhaka also spoke about his experiences at Anfield: "I've got good and not so good memories here. Of course, I've told my team-mates about them. Tomorrow is a big challenge but also a big chance for us. We have a clear plan and want to assert our game."
Continuing to focus on the match, Alonso added: "We can expect a great game at this special place. They're in very good form at the moment – both in the Premier League and in the Champions League. They play a very high speed and intensity and have several options in the squad. They're one of the best teams in Europe."
Xhaka reserved particular praise for Liverpool star Mohamed Salah: "He brings a lot of quality. He's had an incredible career and continued to improve. He's become a big legend here, in my opinion. You certainly have to double-up on him because he's always dangerous - particularly on his left foot, but he also makes a lot of assists and is physically strong."
Nevertheless, the coach does not intend to change his team's own style of play. "We're well prepared," said Alonso. "We have our principles - both sporting and mental. Of course, you always change things here and there, it's a fluid process. But we produced our best performance so far against Stuttgart last time out, and that's how we want to perform again."
Alonso is without Nordi Mukiele (muscle strain) for the clash with the Premier League leaders. His players will therefore "have to stand tight together as a team, so that everyone helps". Martin Terrier will also not be involved. The forward did join in with training on Monday morning but has stayed in Leverkusen as he doesn't yet feel "his best", confirmed the Spaniard.
Leverkusen will be supported by 3,200 fans at Anfield on Tuesday night.
Freiburg’s defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend left them two places but a whole 10 points behind Bayer 04. Their results in general may be mixed, but Julian Schuster’s side are a force to be reckoned with at home, where they have earned 24 of their 33 points. Leverkusen may choose to look for the aerial route if they’re to get the better of their hosts, who have conceded more headed goals than any other team. Here’s all you need to know ahead of Saturday afternoon’s game in our matchday news.
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A boost for the second Bundesliga away game in a row: The Werkself take on SC Freiburg just three days after the convincing 1-0 win at Hamburger SV. Ahead of the game on Saturday, 7 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET), head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the lessons learned from the rearranged fixture at HSV, a trio on yellow cards and young players like Christian Kofane and Montrell Culbreath.
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SC Freiburg suffered their eighth away defeat of the season in Frankfurt last weekend. But at home, at the Europa Park Stadion, coach Julian Schuster's team are clocking up one win after the next. SCF are unbeaten in the last 16 matches at home. On Saturday, 7 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET), they will be looking to keep the run going in the clash with the Werkself. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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For the third time in a row, the Leverkusen eSports players have made it through to the final round of the VBL Club Championship. From 7 to 8 March, they will compete for the German Club Championship at XPERION in Hamburg. At the start of the final round, they face Hamburger SV in the Round of 16. The match starts at 19:30 CET on Saturday, 7 March and will be broadcast live on the VBL Twitch channel. The eSports preview.
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The German Football League (DFL) has scheduled Matchdays 28 to 30 in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The fixtures at a glance.
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