Liverpool 2 – 0 Bologna

Liverpool made it two wins from two games in the new Champions League format as goals in both halves from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah secured a routine 2-0 victory over Bologna at Anfield.

Mac Allister converted Salah’s close-range cross after 11 minutes to give the hosts the lead, but the visitors had their chance before half-time when Alisson Kacper Urbanski parried and Dan Ndoye hit the post.

But Salah calmed nerves in the second period as he scored in his fifth straight Champions League home game, collecting Dominik Szoboszlai’s pass before crossing through Juan Miranda and thundering his shot into the top corner (76′). .

It’s a sign of how well Arne Slot has settled in, as this result means he becomes the first Liverpool manager in history to win eight of his first nine games in charge.

Slot said: “I don’t draw any big conclusions from that, but it’s nice. So there are so many incredible managers who have worked here and done so many special things.”

“The only thing is, I don’t hope that the only thing people remember about me in a year, two or three years – you never know how long I’ll be here – is they just say, ‘That’s the manager , who only won eight of them.’ his nine games.

“I hope I can achieve something more special than just winning eight out of nine games.”

Saturday’s win at Wolves showed they can win even when they are not at their best, an important quality given such a hectic schedule, and this latest triumph came ahead of their game against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on this one Weekend achieved again with minimal effort.

The result puts them in fifth place in the emerging league table, while Bologna drop to 26th. In their next European Cup game, the Reds travel to RB Leipzig on October 23rd.

Bologna will return to England in just under three weeks as their next game in the competition takes place a day earlier at Villa Park.

How Slot continued its good start

An early kick-off at Palace on Saturday will be another tough test, but Liverpool will go into the game as league leaders with another away win on their minds.

Against Bologna they had to overcome some nervous moments in a hard-fought duel. Both Thijs Dallinga and Darwin Nunez had offside attempts ruled out and the Italians did very well – in their first ever Champions League season.

Ndoye hit the post just before Bologna capitalized on a mistake by Trent Alexander-Arnold in their own penalty area, but Alisson – on his 32nd birthday – parried to deny Urbanski.

Riccardo Orsolini was also denied by the Brazilian in his 50th European Cup game for Liverpool before Salah inevitably had his say.

The Egyptian’s magnificent strike was his 49th Champions League goal as he turned left and curled his shot into the top corner to ensure Slot continued his good start to his reign.

The Dutchman added: “They worked really hard to keep another clean sheet today, although we also needed our goalkeeper a few times.”

“We scored two very good goals, especially the second one. It’s always difficult to play against a team that takes so many risks and is constantly ahead. Overall a good result, but I wouldn’t use the word “delighted” today.”

Analysis: Salah calms Liverpool’s nerves

Ben Grounds from Sky Sports:

Liverpool are one of only seven teams in the 36-team competition with a 100 percent record, but Bologna were unfazed by their first trip to Merseyside, committing five players to a high press from the start.

Even after Liverpool took an early lead, they found it difficult to play their way out of the defense and had it not been for Alisson and the framing of the goal, they would have been in more trouble.

Liverpool looked set to overwhelm their opponents after Mac Allister’s opener, but Slot’s side then lost their way when Ndoye, Bologna’s main threat, hit the woodwork twice.

It was Salah’s timely late intervention that ensured a Champions League victorious return to Anfield.

The evening was anything but easy for the hosts, but for the ninth time in as many appearances in the competition, Salah scored with 15 minutes left to ease the tension.

The 32-year-old’s contract expired at the end of the season, but his importance was demonstrated once again here as he scored his sixth goal in four games well against the Serie A side.

Mac Allister: There is room for improvement

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister told TNT Sports:

“It is clear that we are changing, we are happy with the ideas, we are trying to get there. There is room for improvement, so we work very hard every day.”

“I’m really happy personally, but for the team. He (Alisson) made some good saves. Sometimes I think we need to defend better, at least Ali showed how good he is. I’m happy for him and for the team.” “

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker told TNT Sports:

“We were up against a fantastic opponent, it was really difficult. They play really well with the ball and they are competitive without the ball. We managed their game well, scored enough goals to win the game and defended well to stay clean.” Leaf.”

On Salah, Alisson added: “He is a player who helps us a lot. Sometimes it looks like he’s out of the game, but suddenly he has the perfect touch and puts the ball in the top corner. That is his quality, also his strength.”

“We are lucky to have him but we must always highlight the hard work the team has done and that there is a lot to improve but good enough to win the game.”

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