Liverpool 2 Bologna 0: Match review

Neil Atkinson’s post-match review for The Anfield Wrap after Liverpool 2 Bologna 0 in the 2024-2025 Champions League group stage…

Nobody really knows what the job is. But everyone knows that you have to beat Bologna.

Elsewhere I think there is some goal difference and that makes sense. Suddenly, at 15 points, it feels like there are still a few chances to be taken into account. Over fifteen.

With relegation at Anfield, it was fair to wonder whether Liverpool could see an opportunity to do just that tonight. But the truth is that for a team whose next tough game begins some 64 hours after this game ends, Bologna took a lot of punishment.

As time goes on, it will be interesting to see what Premier League teams find both difficult and easy in this competition. Does it help to have so many difficult games? Are you more battle-hardened? It seemed that way last night as Arsenal eliminated PSG. Or do you need to be able to compete well on both fronts?

All of this is against the background that the minimum requirements are not known. Then you come out of the ground and see that Aston Villa, Benfica and Lille have beaten Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid respectively.

That only seven teams have six points, that 18 points – for Liverpool, four more wins from six games – will definitely be enough, and then you realize that it was all both fine and good, without ever really getting into raptures advised.

Liverpool were better than Bologna without ever actually being better than them for 20 minutes at a time. Our opponents, who were a smart bunch last season, are showing that they still are.

They – and their supporters – did themselves credit by asking questions that Liverpool seemingly didn’t want to answer, but questions that Liverpool somehow didn’t need to answer from Bologna because they have better players.

Both teams finish the game with one could argue that their goalkeeper was the best player. This isn’t entirely logical, but it’s true. Both handle what comes their way excellently. Both react and anticipate situations well and pass the ball flawlessly. They bring their teams to the top.

Elsewhere, Virgil van Dijk puts Ryan Gravenberch in the lead. There is an old quote from Cesc Fabregas about passing with information about it. Van Dijk does this again and again, but it’s easy to offer the information and show another thing to show brilliance, and that’s exactly what Ryan Gravenberch is currently doing.

He is irresistible. He plays the deepest midfielder like a dream, but can also be moved around with value and utility. He turns away and charges with the same enthusiasm as he reclaims it. This is a player who is suddenly both in his pomp and aware that there is much, much more pomp to come.

It’s been a joy to watch him become the best version of himself this season, and there’s much more to come.

Mo Salah is consistent and scores the goal, which he rarely does these days. Once again, European football suits him. It’s a goal and an assist, and both are great. His thing is this: he’s never seen a door that he doesn’t keep knocking on. That is, if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t seem quite right. He chooses his moments, but in doing so he chooses each one.

Elsewhere, but related, Dominik Szoboszlai remains the strangest number 10 you’ve ever seen – so maybe shake the snow globe, spin the kaleidoscope and look again, look beyond the beauty. Maybe he’s a John Wark/David Platt/Frank Lampard rather than a Juan Roman Riquelme type. If he is the former, the ball needs to get into the net more often.

However, the work outside of possession and overall development couldn’t be better. It couldn’t be more tireless. He wants Liverpool to win more than you do, and that’s as good a starting point as any.

The referee was horrible and Liverpool are playing again in just a few moments – blink and you’ll miss them. You will warm up, sleep, recover, plan, sleep, travel, sleep and play. The challenge is the same as Nottingham Forest against AC Milan, but alternates between domestic and European. Last time they did part two better than part one and we will need the same again.

Nobody said it was easy, but everyone knows it is the task. Leave the week winning, winning and, yes, winning, and then we can all say everyone was great. This is the crux of the first half of the English season. You come out unscathed and everyone was great.

The scoreboard remains a mystery. The challenge remains obvious. Just keep winning and count the points and the moments later.

Neil

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