Liverpool 2-0 Bologna: Mohamed Salah magic helps Arne Slot create history in routine Champions League win
Liverpool continued their strong start in the new Champions League format, securing their second consecutive victory with a straightforward 2-0 win against Bologna at Anfield. Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah each found the back of the net, scoring one goal in each half.
After 11 minutes, Mac Allister scored with a close-range finish from Salah's cross, giving the home team the lead. However, the away side created some opportunities before halftime. Alisson made a crucial save against Kacper Urbanski, and Dan Ndoye hit the post with his shot.
However, Salah eased any tension early in the second half by scoring for the fifth consecutive home match in the Champions League. He received a pass from Dominik Szoboszlai, made a quick move around Juan Miranda, and unleashed a powerful shot into the top corner of the net (76).
This outcome reflects how well Arne Slot has adapted to his role, making him the first Liverpool manager ever to secure victory in eight out of his first nine games.
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Slot spoke to TNT Sports about the challenges of the match, saying, "It's definitely not out of the question to achieve something remarkable here. I don’t think it was an easy victory. Bologna really put up a tough fight, applying tight marking across the entire field. You have to be patient and look for the right opportunity, because if you try to push through too soon, the game can become wide open."
Saturday's win against Wolves showed that they can come out on top even when they’re not playing at their peak, which is a crucial trait to have during such a busy schedule. This latest success was once again secured quite effortlessly, just in time for their upcoming match against Crystal Palace in the Premier League this weekend.
With this outcome, they have climbed to fifth place in the new league standings, while Bologna is currently in 26th. The Reds will be heading to RB Leipzig for their next European match on October 23.
Bologna will return to England in less than three weeks, as their upcoming match in this tournament is scheduled at Villa Park the day before.
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). **Liverpool Player Ratings:** - 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
Substitutes: 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), and Dallinga (7).
Substitutions: Castro (not available), Iling-Junior (not available), Casale (6), Aebischer (5).
Player of the Game: Ryan Gravenberch.
"How Slot Maintained His Strong Start"
Liverpool faces a challenging match at Palace on Saturday with an early start time. However, they head into the game sitting in first place and eager to secure another win on the road.
In their match against Bologna, the team faced some tense situations during a challenging game. Thijs Dallinga and Darwin Nunez both had goals disallowed due to offside calls. The Italians, competing in their inaugural Champions League season, performed admirably.
Ndoye hit the post just before Bologna took advantage of a mistake in his own penalty area made by Trent Alexander-Arnold. However, Alisson, who was celebrating his 32nd birthday, made a great save to stop Urbanski from scoring.
Riccardo Orsolini had a shot saved by the Brazilian goalkeeper during his 50th match in Europe for Liverpool, but inevitably, Salah made his impact on the game.
The Egyptian's brilliant goal marked his 49th in the Champions League. He skillfully dribbled to his left and beautifully curled the ball into the top corner, helping Slot maintain his strong beginning as the coach.
The Dutchman said, "They put in a lot of effort to maintain a clean sheet today, but we also relied on our goalkeeper a few times."
"We managed to score two great goals, particularly the second one. Playing against a team that takes so many chances and stays right on top of you is never easy. Overall, it’s a solid outcome, but I wouldn’t exactly say I’m thrilled about it today."
Salah Calms Liverpool's Nerves: Analysis
Ben Grounds from Sky Sports:
Liverpool stands out as one of just seven teams out of the 36 participating in the tournament that has won every game so far. However, Bologna didn't let their first visit to Merseyside intimidate them. They started strong, sending five players to apply pressure high up the pitch right from the beginning.
Although Liverpool got off to a strong start with an early goal, they struggled to build up play from their defense. If it weren't for Alisson's saves and the goalpost, they could have faced even greater difficulties.
After Mac Allister scored first, it looked like Liverpool would dominate the game. However, Slot's team struggled to find their rhythm, and Ndoye, who was Bologna's biggest danger, struck the post twice.
Salah's crucial late involvement secured a triumphant return of the Champions League to Anfield.
The evening was anything but easy for the home team, but with just 15 minutes remaining, Salah scored for the ninth time in this tournament, helping to reduce the tension.
At 32 years old, his contract expires at the end of the season, but once again he showcased his significance to the team. He skillfully scored his sixth goal in just four matches against the Serie A team.
Mac Allister: Room For Growth Ahead
Liverpool's midfielder, Alexis Mac Allister, shared his thoughts with TNT Sports:
"We're definitely in a period of change and are excited about the concepts we're exploring. We're making strides towards our goals, but we acknowledge that there's still plenty of room to grow. This motivates us to put in our best effort every single day."
"I feel great, both for myself and the team. Alisson made some impressive saves. There are times when I believe we could improve our defense, but at least Ali demonstrated his talent. I'm pleased for him and for our team."
Liverpool's goalie, Alisson Becker, shared his thoughts with TNT Sports:
"We faced a formidable rival, and it was a challenging match. They have great skills both with and without the ball and are quite competitive. We did a good job controlling their play, scored enough points to secure the victory, and defended effectively to maintain a clean sheet."
Regarding Salah, Alisson remarked: "He's a crucial player for us. There are moments when it seems like he's not really involved in the match, but then out of nowhere, he makes a brilliant touch and sends the ball into the top corner. That's what makes him special and highlights his talent."
"We're fortunate to have him on our side, but it's important to recognize the effort put in by the entire team. There's still room for improvement, but they performed well enough to secure the victory."
