Liverpool made it two wins from two within the new Champions League format as objectives 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 probabilities 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 sport, accumulating Dominik Szoboszlai’s go earlier than reducing inside Juan Miranda to thunder his strike into the highest nook (76).
It’s a measure of how properly Arne Slot has settled in that this outcome means he has turn out to be the primary Liverpool boss in historical past to win eight of his first 9 matches in cost.
Slot instructed 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 easiest, 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 outcome 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 will likely be again in England once more in slightly below three weeks as their subsequent sport on this competitors is at Villa Park a day earlier.
How Slot continued his tremendous begin
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 prime of the desk and with one other away victory on their minds.
In opposition to 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 properly.
Bologna’s Kacper Urbanski reacts to a missed likelihood
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 purpose, as he lower in onto his left and curled his shot into the highest nook to make sure Slot continued his tremendous 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 objectives, particularly the second. It’s at all times troublesome to play a group takes that a lot danger and is continually on prime of you. General, a great outcome, however I would not use the phrase delighted myself at this time.”
Analysis: Salah settles Liverpool nerves
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 one in every of solely seven groups within the 36-team competitors with a 100 per cent report 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 approach out from the again and had it not been for Alisson and the body of the purpose they might have been in additional bother.
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 approach as Ndoye, Bologna’s essential 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 easy 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 properly he took his sixth purpose in 4 appearances towards the Serie A facet.
Mac Allister: There’s room for enchancment
Mac Allister celebrates after giving Liverpool an early lead
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister instructed 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 pleased personally however for the group. He [Alisson] made some good saves. Generally I feel we have to defend higher, a minimum of Ali confirmed how good he’s. I am pleased for him and for the group.”
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker instructed 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 exhausting work the group had and lots to enhance however ok to win the sport.”
