JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<ul>
  <li>
      <a>Some anchor text</a>
      <div class="sub">Some div content <a>and anchor</a></div>
  </li>
</ul>

CSS

li {
    position: relative;
}

li > a {
    display: block;
}

li > a:before {
    content: '';
    position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    right: 0;
    bottom: 0;
    left: 0;
    z-index: 1;
}

li > a:hover {
    background-color: cyan;
}

li > a:before:hover {
    background-color: transparent;
}

a:hover {
    color: red;
}