There are tougher tests to come and there is more work to be done, as Arne Slot frequently likes to remind Liverpool, but there is no disputing the belief, quality and momentum that is surging through this team under the guidance of their new head coach. Slot became the first Liverpool manager or head coach in history to record eight wins from his first nine matches as Bologna were dispatched in a hard-fought contest at Anfield.
Alexis Mac Allister marked his and Slot’s Champions League home debut for Liverpool with his first goal of the season. Mohamed Salah, having provided the pinpoint assist for the World Cup winner’s opener, quashed the Italians’ hopes of a point with a stunning second-half strike on Liverpool’s 250th appearance in the European Cup. New leader, new era this may be, but Liverpool’s promise on the European stage remains intact.
“I don’t draw any conclusions [from his record-breaking start] but it is nice,” said Slot. “So many incredible managers have worked here and achieved so many special things. The only thing is, I hope when people remember me in one, two or three years’ time, or however long I’m here, it’s not because they only say: ‘He’s the manager who won eight of his first nine games’. I’m hoping to achieve more special things than that. But it does say a lot about how Jürgen [Klopp] left this club, the squad I inherited, the work rate the players put in and how much my staff is helping me to get these results. But I hope to be remembered for more special things than winning eight out of the first nine.”
Bologna deserved Liverpool’s respect, Slot had insisted, having qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history last season with a club record 68 points. Their boisterous, sold-out away support was certainly up for their inaugural away trip in the competition. But the respect had to come with a recognition that Bologna have lost the coach who led them into the Champions League, Thiago Motta joining Juventus in the summer, along with the striker Joshua Zirkzee and defender Riccardo Calafiori to Manchester United and Arsenal respectively.
The visitors appeared weakened, uncertain in their new, elevated company, during a dominant opening 20 minutes from Liverpool. Bologna celebrations of a Thijs Dallinga goal, deftly clipped over Alisson but when clearly offside, had only just been curtailed when Mac Allister found Darwin Núñez on the edge of their penalty area. Núñez released Salah on the right and the Egypt international swept a superb cross behind a static visiting defence. Having instigated the move, Mac Allister finished it off by ghosting in behind three Bologna players and volleying beyond Lukasz Skorupski from close range.
Liverpool looked in rampant form but then the sloppiness that crept into their play at Wolves on Saturday, prompting Slot to criticise the “mediocrity” he will not accept, reared its ugly head again. The initiative was handed to Bologna, along with several opportunities to equalise. Dan Ndoye had a shot deflected on to the crossbar by Ibrahima Konaté after Dominik Szoboszlai lost possession cheaply. Riccardo Orsolini steered a free header against teammate Dallinga when found unmarked at the back post by Nikola Moro’s dangerous free-kick. Liverpool failed to clear the danger and, after Alisson clawed away a low cross from Juan Miranda, Ndoye fired against the base of a post. The Bologna pressure and the Liverpool mistakes continued and Alisson made a fine save to deny Kacper Urbanski when Ndoye dispossessed Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool regained their composure and rhythm before the interval. Bologna, 13th in Serie A and with only one win to their name in all competitions this season, continued to trouble Slot’s side, however. Orsolini volleyed straight at Alisson when picked out unmarked by Miranda’s deep cross. Urbanski was presented with another clear opening by Ndoye but blazed over from 20 yards.
Any concerns Liverpool may have harboured over Bologna’s persistent threat were extinguished by the consistent brilliance of Salah’s left foot. The club’s leading marksman in European competition produced a stunning, trademark finish to settle the contest. Receiving Szoboszlai’s pass on the corner of the visitors’ penalty area, and using Alexander-Arnold’s overlapping run as a decoy, Salah stepped across the left-back Miranda and curled an unstoppable shot into Skorupski’s top right hand corner.
It was the 32 year-old’s ninth goal in his last nine Champions League outings and 48th in 77 European appearances for Liverpool in total. He almost supplied a delightful assist for Mac Allister too but the Bologna keeper saved bravely at the midfielder’s feet as Liverpool ended the game in control.
“You will probably never reach perfection but you can always aim for perfection,” reflected Slot. “We can improve and we have to improve, that’s clear.”
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