Mohamed Salah and Alexis Mac Allister were on target as Liverpool maintained their 100% start to the UEFA Champions League with a 2-0 victory over Bologna at Anfield.
The Reds made a supercharged start and took the lead on 11 minutes when Mac Allister tapped home Salah’s sensational delivery to snare his first ever goal in Europe’s premier competition.
Bologna had their moments and twice hit the woodwork late in the first period but could not find the goal to dampen the home crowd’s spirits.
A cagey second half ensued until Salah became the first Reds player to net in five Champions League home games in a row with a sublime curler on 75 minutes.
Next up, Liverpool will look to maintain their place at the Premier League summit when they visit Crystal Palace on Saturday. Mid-table Bologna host Parma in Serie A on Sunday.
Talking Point – Another solid win sees Arne Slot make Liverpool history
Perfect in Europe and top of the English top-flight, it’s fair to say Liverpool’s start to life under Arne Slot continues to gleam with continued promise.
The surprise 1-0 reversal to Nottingham Forest in September remains the only blemish on an otherwise excellent record. Indeed, the Dutchman is the first Liverpool manager in the club’s illustrious history to oversee eight wins from their first nine matches at the helm.
It remains a work in progress as the Merseysiders transition from the Jurgen Klopp era into the philosophy of the former Feyenoord boss, but despite clear evidence of areas that require improvement going forward, the players have produced the goods with positive results to lay the platform for what they hope will be greater rewards down the line.
There’s no doubt bigger tests await Liverpool, particularly in a daunting period after the October internationals that features games against Chelsea and Arsenal, but they have delivered on a favourable run of fixtures to start and look a more solid outfit defensively too.
Player of the match
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool). In a tight game that was keenly-contested for long spells, it was the Egyptian who made the decisive contributions; first producing a bewitching assist for Mac Allister before easing any late nerves with a trademark strike cutting in from the right.
Player ratings
LIVERPOOL: Alisson 8, Alexander-Arnold 6, Robertson 7, Van Dijk 8, Konate 7, Mac Allister 8, Gravenberch 8, Diaz 6, Szoboszlai 7, Salah 8*, Nunez 6. Subs: Jota 6, Tsimikas 6, Gakpo 6, Jones n/a, Bradley n/a.
BOLOGNA: Skorupski 7, Miranda 7, Beukema 6, Lucumi 6, Posch 7, Moro 6, Freuler 6, Urbanski 7, Ndoye 7, Dallinga 6, Orsolini 7. Subs: Aebischer 6, Casale 6, Iling-Junior n/a, Castro n/a, Fabbian n/a.
Match Highlights
11’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 1-0 Bologna: (Mac Allister). Salah’s sumptuous ball into the six-yard box from the right is begging for a simple finish and Mac Allister is there to volley home from point-blank range.
32’ – BOLOGNA CHANCE! A devilish delivery from the right arcs to the far post but Riccardo Orsolini’s header is blocked by his own man in the six-yard box. The visitors come again but Dan Ndoye’s eight-yard strike hits the outside of the post.
75’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 2-0 Bologna: (Salah). Salah drives in from the right, using TAA’s overlap to create the space to curve a superb strike into the far corner.
Key Stat
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