Liverpool vs. Bayer Leverkusen preview: Team news and predicted lineups

In what will be a very special game for Xabi Alonso, his Bayer Leverkusen side will lock horns with Liverpool in the Champions League at Anfield Road on Tuesday night.

Alonso spent five seasons at Liverpool as a player and has fond memories of his time there, including winning the Champions League in 2004/05.

Now, after a double-winning season with Bayer Leverkusen, he returns as a coach.

"To play in the Champions League at Anfield - there's hardly anything better," said Alonso ahead of the trip to Liverpool, stressing that the match "means a lot" to him.

At the top of the Premier League, Liverpool are "one of the best teams in Europe - especially at the moment", he warned.

"It's a big challenge, but also a nice challenge for us."

Coming off a 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend, Liverpool aren't just doing well in the Premier League, but also in the Champions League, where they are second after winning their first three European games under new head coach Arne Slot.

Leverkusen, meanwhile, were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Stuttgart on Friday in a game in which they couldn't turn their chances into goals.

The draw, Leverkusen's second in a row in the league, means Die Werkself are now seven points behind Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga table, where they sit fourth after nine games.

However, Alonso can take heart from the Champions League table, where Leverkusen are sixth after taking seven points from their opening three games.

On the injury front, Liverpool will be without Alisson, Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota. Ibrahima Konaté has confirmed he's ready to play despite being forced off at half-time against Brighton.

Amine Adli, Jeanuel Belocian and Nordi Mukiele will be absent through injury for Leverkusen. Martin Terrier is expected to be back in the squad after missing the game against Stuttgart.

Click here to see our predicted Liverpool vs. Bayer Leverkusen lineups.