Liverpool 2 – 0 Bologna

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Liverpool made it two wins from two within the new Champions League format as targets in both half from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah secured a routine 2-0 win over Bologna at Anfield.

Mac Allister transformed Salah’s cross from shut vary after 11 minutes to place the hosts forward, however the guests had their possibilities earlier than the interval as Alisson denied Kacper Urbanski whereas Dan Ndoye struck the bottom of the publish.

However Salah settled any nerves within the second interval as he notched for the fifth successive Champions League residence recreation, gathering Dominik Szoboszlai’s cross earlier than slicing inside Juan Miranda to thunder his strike into the highest nook (76).

It’s a measure of how nicely Arne Slot has settled in that this consequence means he has change into the primary Liverpool boss in historical past to win eight of his first 9 matches in cost.

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Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot picks out the positives from his facet’s efficiency in opposition to Bologna within the Champions League, however says they nonetheless have to enhance going ahead.

Slot advised TNT Sports activities: “It’s hardly impossible to do something special at this club. It wasn’t an easy win, in my opinion. Bologna made it difficult. They man-mark all over the pitch, so you have to wait for the right moment, because if you play through it, then it’s completely open.”

Saturday’s victory at Wolves demonstrated they’ll win when not at their highest, an vital high quality amid such a busy fixture schedule, and this newest triumph was once more achieved with minimal fuss forward of this weekend’s journey to face Crystal Palace within the Premier League.

The consequence strikes them as much as fifth place within the nascent league desk with Bologna down in twenty sixth place. The Reds face a visit to RB Leipzig on October 23 of their subsequent European outing.

Bologna can be again in England once more in just below three weeks as their subsequent recreation on this competitors is at Villa Park a day earlier.

Participant scores

Liverpool: Alisson (7), Alexander-Arnold (6), Robertson (7), Konate (6), Van Dijk (7), Szoboszlai (7), Gravenberch (8), Mac Allister (7), Salah (8), Nunez (5), Luis Diaz (6).

Subs: Gakpo (6), Jota (6), Tsimikas (5).

Bologna: Skorupski (7), Miranda (6), Lucumi (6), Beukema (6), Posch (7), Freuler (7), Ndoye (6), Orsolini (7), Urbanski (6), Moro (6), Dallinga (7).

Subs: Castro (n/a), Iling-Junior (n/a), Casale (6), Aebischer (5).

Man of the match: Ryan Gravenberch.

How Slot continued his fantastic begin

Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister, centre right, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League soccer match between Liverpool and Bologna at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
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Alexis Mac Allister celebrates after scoring the opener

An early kick-off at Palace on Saturday will present one other powerful check, however Liverpool will go into the sport high of the desk and with one other away victory on their minds.

Towards Bologna, they needed to survive some nervous moments in a hard-fought conflict. Thijs Dallinga and Darwin Nunez each had efforts dominated out for offside, and the Italians – of their first ever Champions League marketing campaign – acquitted themselves very nicely.

Bologna's Kacper Urbanski reacts to a missed chance
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Bologna’s Kacper Urbanski reacts to a missed likelihood

Workforce information

  • Slot made only one alteration to the facet that beat Wolves 2-1 within the Premier League on the weekend, as Darwin Nunez got here in for Diogo Jota. Andrew Robertson retained his place within the facet after overcoming the knock he picked up in that win at Molineux.
  • Bologna made 4 modifications to the crew that drew with Atalanta in Serie A. Miranda, Moro, Urbanski and Dallinga all began, changing Lykogiannis, Fabbian, Aebischer and Castro.

Ndoye struck the publish moments earlier than Bologna capitalised on an error in his personal penalty space from Trent Alexander-Arnold, however Alisson – on his thirty second birthday – saved to disclaim Urbanski.

Riccardo Orsolini was additionally denied by the Brazilian on his fiftieth European look for Liverpool earlier than Salah inevitably had his say.

The Egyptian’s luxurious strike was his forty ninth Champions League objective, as he minimize in onto his left and curled his shot into the highest nook to make sure Slot continued his fantastic begin to his tenure.

The Dutchman added: “They worked really hard to keep a clean sheet again today, though we also needed our goalkeeper on a few occasions.

“We scored two superb targets, particularly the second. It’s at all times troublesome to play a crew takes that a lot threat and is continually on high of you. Total, an excellent consequence, however I would not use the phrase delighted myself as we speak.”

Analysis: Salah settles Liverpool nerves

Mohamed Salah’s timely late intervention made sure of a victorious return of the Champions League to Anfield as Liverpool beat Bologna 2-0
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Mohamed Salah’s well timed late intervention made certain of a victorious return of the Champions League to Anfield as Liverpool beat Bologna 2-0

Sky Sports activities’ Ben Grounds:

Liverpool are considered one of solely seven groups within the 36-team competitors with a 100 per cent file however Bologna weren’t overawed by their first journey to Merseyside and from the off dedicated 5 males to a excessive press.

Even after Liverpool took an early lead they discovered it troublesome to play their means out from the again and had it not been for Alisson and the body of the objective they’d have been in additional hassle.

Bologna's Thijs Dallinga is flagged offside after beating Alisson
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Bologna’s Thijs Dallinga is flagged offside after beating Alisson

It appeared Liverpool would overwhelm their opponents after Mac Allister’s opener however Slot’s facet then misplaced their means as Ndoye, Bologna’s principal menace, twice hit the woodwork.

It was Salah’s well timed late intervention that made certain of a victorious return of the Champions League to Anfield.

The night time was removed from simple for the hosts however for the ninth time in as many appearances on this competitors, Salah scored to ease the anxiousness with quarter-hour left.

The 32-year-old is out of contract on the finish of the season however right here was one other reminder of his significance, how nicely he took his sixth objective in 4 appearances in opposition to the Serie A facet.

Mac Allister: There may be room for enchancment

Alexis Mac Allister celebrates after giving Liverpool an early lead against Bologna
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Mac Allister celebrates after giving Liverpool an early lead

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister advised TNT Sports activities:

“It is clear we are in transition, we are happy with the ideas, we are trying to get there. There is room for improvement, that’s why we work very hard every day.

“I am actually comfortable personally however for the crew. He [Alisson] made some good saves. Typically I feel we have to defend higher, at the very least Ali confirmed how good he’s. I am comfortable for him and for the crew.”

Sensational Salah

  • Mohamed Salah has each scored and assisted in 9 totally different UEFA Champions League matches – probably the most of any participant for an English facet, whereas no African participant has completed so on extra events within the competitors (Samuel Eto’o, additionally 9).
  • Salah is the third participant to attain in 5 consecutive UEFA Champions League residence video games for a Premier League facet, after Thierry Henry with Arsenal (7) and Ruud van Nistelrooy with Manchester United (6).

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker advised TNT Sports activities:

“We were up against a fantastic opponent, it was really tough. They play really well with the ball and without the ball they are competitive. We did well to manage their game, scored enough to win the game and defended well to keep the clean sheet.”

On Salah, Alisson added: “He’s a player that helps us a lot, sometimes it looks like he’s not in the game but suddenly a perfect touch, he puts the ball in the top corner. That’s his quality, his strength as well.

“We’re fortunate to have him however we at all times have to spotlight the onerous work the crew had and lots to enhance however adequate to win the sport.”

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