Arne Slot celebrated his first home Champions League match as Liverpool manager with a 2-0 victory over a determined Bologna side at Anfield. This win marks a remarkable achievement for Slot, making him the first coach in Liverpool’s history to secure eight victories in his first nine games in charge.
Liverpool opened the scoring early in the 12th minute when Alexis Mac Allister converted a close-range shot following an excellent low cross from Mohamed Salah. Both teams had goals disallowed for offside—Thijs Dallinga for Bologna and Darwin Nunez for Liverpool—before Bologna came alive towards the end of the first half.
Dan Ndoye struck the post, while Trent Alexander-Arnold’s error in his own penalty area nearly cost Liverpool, but goalkeeper Alisson was on hand to deny Kacper Urbanski’s effort. Bologna continued to apply pressure after the interval, with Alisson making a solid save from Riccardo Orsolini, and Urbanski missing a good chance by firing over the bar.
The match was sealed when Salah scored his 49th Champions League goal. Cutting in onto his left foot, he delivered a stunning shot that curled into the top corner, helping Slot maintain his impressive start as Liverpool’s head coach.
Slot’s European Journey Begins with Success
Liverpool now sits at the top of the Premier League and has secured six points from six in the Champions League, following a 3-1 away victory against AC Milan in their opening match. They have six more group-stage matches ahead, including home fixtures against Bayer Leverkusen and the 15-time European champions Real Madrid.
With a perfect start to the competition, Liverpool is currently fifth in the 36-team table and in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages. During Klopp’s nearly nine-year tenure, he guided the team to a Champions League victory, two finals, and two quarter-final appearances.
Slot, who managed Feyenoord in last season’s tournament, expressed his excitement earlier this week about experiencing the Anfield atmosphere on European nights, and he wasn’t disappointed. The atmosphere was electric, further enhanced by a spirited Bologna fanbase celebrating their return to European competition for the first time since 1999-2000.
“I hope that in one, two, or three years, people remember me for more than just winning eight of my first nine games,” Slot remarked. “You aim for perfection but know you may never reach it.”
Match Highlights
Liverpool nearly got off to a dream start as Ryan Gravenberch, the standout performer against AC Milan, teamed up well with Salah, making a strong run to the byline. Unfortunately, neither Luis Diaz nor Nunez could capitalize on his low cross.
However, Mac Allister’s goal arrived 11 minutes later, showcasing his sharp finishing ability. A lovely pass from Gravenberch found Nunez, whose left-footed shot lacked the power to beat Bologna’s Lukasz Skorupski.
Bologna, who finished fifth in Serie A last season, arrived at Anfield under new manager Vincenzo Italiano after losing several key players. Despite their challenges, they gave a commendable performance, particularly in the closing stages of the first half and early in the second half.
However, Salah’s superb strike calmed Liverpool’s nerves, solidifying their position in the group. Next up, they will head to Germany to take on RB Leipzig.
Credit: BBC Sports
