Live blog: Werkself away at Liverpool

+++5 November, 11.13pm CET+++

A sobering night at Anfield for the Werkself, who come away empty-handed for the first time in this Champions League campaign after a 4-0 defeat to Liverpool. The Premier League leaders scored all the goals in the second half. The result leaves Bayer 04 on seven points after four matchdays in the league phase.

• The match report

The squad will now head back to the hotel in the city centre. In the morning they'll have a recovery training session at the Liverpool academy before setting off home. Heads up, Werkself fans - the games keep coming and there's no time to mope! The third successive week of midweek fixtures ends with the trip to VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga on Saturday, before the final international break of the calendar year, followed by three more packed weeks. Good night and see you tomorrow!

+++5 November, 5.59pm CET+++

Off to the stadium! The tension is building... It's almost 20 years since the Werkself were last at Anfield. The hosts won 3-1 in the last-16 second leg in February 2005, the year that the Reds lifted the famous trophy in Istanbul. Xabi Alonso missed the game due to injury, incidentally.

Back to the present day: the Werkself can end an incredible Liverpool run here. Thirteen different German teams have set foot at Anfield in 22 matches. German wins: none. For those who can't be there, the match is being broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video and you can keep up to date on bayer04.de.

Everything else you need to know ahead of the game is in the Matchday News.

+++5 November, 5.22pm CET+++

Full time at the Liverpool FC Training Ground! Sadly, the Leverkusen U19s come away empty-handed tis time. After two wins and a draw, they went down to a 4-1 defeat against the LFC youngsters - despite an early lead and some big chances. After a meal at the academy, the boys will be at Anfield. Read the match report HERE.

+++5 November, 1.48pm CET+++

Xabi Alonso's team got down to business during activation. After a few stretching exercises at the start, the team did some keepy-up and the ever-popular football tennis. There was also a short final video analysis to ensure optimum preparation. Good mood? Check! Focus? Check! You can also clearly feel the anticipation! The boys are about to have lunch together here at the hotel. Later in the day, there will be a team meeting and the usual pre-match meal before heading to the stadium. The calm before the storm, which is also needed.

That's because Liverpool remain a top team under Arne Slot. They have a perfect record of three wins from three games in the Champions League. The 3-1 victory at AC Milan was followed by a 2-0 win against Bologna, and most recently a 1-0 success at RB Leipzig. LFC are also top of the Premier League, with their only defeat coming against Nottingham Forest. Slot's side have conceded just seven goals in the first 13 games of the campaign and have kept seven clean sheets - the best record in England's top flight. You can find out more about the opponents in our profile.

+++5 November, 11.57am CET+++

We used the time to have a look around the city in the north-west of England, which is home to around 500,000 people - and we've already met some Bayer 04 fans! There are still eight hours until kick-off here. The weather is grey but mild and dry. For all those who want to go sightseeing now - before heading to the stadium - we recommend our travel tips from weloveholidays.

For us, we started at the Pier Head, a lively riverside promenade on the River Mersey which is often referred to as the centrepiece of Liverpool. The Pier Head is particularly famous for the Three Graces - three majestic buildings that dominate the city's skyline. We then made our way to the Royal Albert Dock. Liverpool is closely associated with maritime trade, music and, of course, football. Located directly at the mouth of the River Mersey, Liverpool was one of England's most important harbours in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, Liverpool is a vibrant and modern city that has become an important centre for science, technology and education. Liverpool is also known worldwide as the birthplace of the Beatles - so naturally we paid them a visit too. The Beatles Story Museum at the Royal Albert Dock is a tribute to the famous band.

+++5 November, 10.45am CET+++

Before the main event tonight, our U19s meet their counterparts from Liverpool in the UEFA Youth League at 15:00 CET (14:00 local time). The day started with a walk through the streets of the English city and across the large campus of the University of Liverpool.

Information for any fans wanting to attend the Youth League match at the Liverpool training ground in Kirkby: a first come, first served policy is in place, with capacity limited to around 500.

+++5 November, 9.20am CET+++

Good morning from a cloudy Liverpool! Today is so-called 'Guy Fawkes Day' in England, an annual commemoration that's celebrated by parades, fireworks, bonfires and food. The background is the failed assassination by a group of Roman Catholics on King James I in England in 1605. One of the conspirators who was arrested was Guy Fawkes.

The Werkself's agenda for the day looks like this: after breakfast, there'll be an activation session followed by a quick final video analysis around midday. This afternoon, the team will get together for a meeting before the bus makes its way to the stadium in the early evening. We'll bring you the latest updates from the port city ahead of the match - let's go!

+++4 November, 10.00pm CET +++

Xabi Alonso said this at the press conference: "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."

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." The full round-up from the press conference can be found HERE. Good night from Liverpool!

+++4 November, 7.51pm CET+++

After a little over an hour in the air and an approach taking the team over the River Mersey, the Werkself touched down at Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport. After passport checks, almost all the team will make their way to the hotel.

As for Alonso and Xhaka, they’ll be part of a smaller delegation making the trip straight to Anfield for the pre-match press conference. As you all know, it’s a first professional return here for Alonso. We’ll have all the key statements from him and Xhaka shortly after they’ve spoke.

+++4 November, 4.55pm CET+++

The bus made it through the traffic on the motorway to Düsseldorf. The first players from the first team and U19s have taken their seats at the gate. The flight to Liverpool is scheduled to depart shortly. We’ll be back with you once we touch down in the UK!

+++4 November, 2.02pm CET+++

After some warming up inside the BayArena, Jonathan Tah and the rest of the squad made their way out into the sunshine of the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion for final training. The players got up to speed with some passing drills on small pitches, while the goalkeepers focused on dealing with crosses and headers with coach David Thiel. There was also good news as Martin Terrier trained again, while U19 player Francis Onyeka was once again with the senior squad. The team will shortly go and have lunch before making their way to the airport.

+++4 November, 12.43pm CET+++

Managing director for sport Simon Rolfes spoke to the media during training this lunchtime: “We’re really looking forward to the game at Anfield. We’re expecting an intense match against an excellent opponent in a great atmosphere. These are the games we worked for last season, to experience things like this. We’re expecting the opposition to run hard and be physically robust – that’s part of English football culture. It’s a big challenge to so seamlessly keep it going after following such a dominant figure like Jürgen Klopp and such a successful time. It’s a great job by those in charge at Liverpool and a sign of the internal stability and continuity in the club.”

Nevertheless, the Werkself will go into Tuesday’s fixture full of confidence: “You can’t control every phase of the game in these top games, but it’s about accepting all phases – those when you dominate and those where you need to be uncompromising in your resistance. We want to build on our performance against Stuttgart on Friday. If we get a result, then we’ve taken a huge step towards the next round.”

+++4 November, 10.36am CET+++

Our U19s are also making the trip to England today for their UEFA Youth League fixture. Head coach Sergi Runge will first hold final training at the BayArena before lunch and the flight to Liverpool. The squad will then make their way to the hotel for dinner and the final pre-match meeting. The game against Liverpool’s U19s is at 3pm CET on Wednesday. You’ll be able to watch it live on YouTube.

+++4 November, 9.47am CET+++

Good morning from Leverkusen! Today’s preparations for the Werkself begin at 1pm with final training at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. The squad will then have lunch together at the BayArena before their flight from Düsseldorf to Liverpool. Xabi Alonso and Granit Xhaka will then be whisked off straight to Anfield for the pre-match press conference. You can keep up with all the action right here.