Arne Slot's first home Champions League match as
Liverpool boss ended in victory as goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed
Salah helped the Reds defeat battling Italian side Bologna at Anfield.
Slot became the first man in Liverpool's distinguished
history to win eight of his first nine games in charge, but his side had to
survive some nervous moments in this hard-fought match.
The hosts scored in the 12th minute when Mac Allister was
able to convert from close range following Salah's excellent low cross from the
right side.
Both sides had potential goals ruled out for offside – Thijs
Dallinga for Bologna and Darwin Nunez for Liverpool - before the Italians, in
their first ever Champions League campaign and only their second time in
European football's top competition, ended the first half well.
Dan Ndoye hit the post and Bologna capitalised on an error
from Trent Alexander-Arnold in his own penalty area, before Alisson saved to
deny Kacper Urbanski.
The visitors continued to create chances after the break,
with Alisson saving well from Riccardo Orsolini and Urbanski firing over when
well placed.
But the hosts sealed the win in style with Salah's 49th
Champions League goal, cutting in on to his left foot and curling a wonderful
shot into the top corner to ensure Slot, who replaced Jurgen Klopp in the
summer, continued his fine start to his tenure.
Slot's Anfield European experience lives up to hype
Liverpool are top of the Premier League and this victory
follows a 3-1 away success over another Italian side, AC Milan, in the opening
round of Champions League fixtures to give Slot's side six points from six.
They still have six more matches to come in the league
phase, including home matches against German champions Bayer Leverkusen,
managed by ex-Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, and 15-time European champions
Real Madrid.
But they have made a perfect start to the competition and
are fifth in the 36-team table, already in a strong position to push for
automatic qualification to the last 16.
In Klopp's almost nine years at Anfield, he won the
Champions League, reached two finals, two further quarter-finals and reached
the final of the Europa League.
Dutchman Slot, who managed in this tournament last season
with Feyenoord, had said earlier this week how much he was looking forward to
sampling the famous Anfield atmosphere on European nights.
The reality lived up the hype, further buoyed by a large
contingent from Bologna - relishing the chance to witness European competition
for the first time since 1999-2000.
"I don't hope the only thing people remember me for in
one, two or three years - you never know how long I'll be here - they only say,
'That is the manager who only won eight of his nine games'," said Slot.
"I'm hoping to do more special things than winning
eight out of nine games.
"You will probably never reach perfection. You are
always aiming for perfection but you will never reach this."
Liverpool almost made a dream start.
Ryan Gravenberch, the Reds' man of the match against AC
Milan, was again impressive.
The defensive midfielder linked up with Salah and got to the
byeline with a bustling run, though Luis Diaz or Nunez were unable to convert
his low cross.
But it did not matter as Mac Allister got his first goal of
the campaign 11 minutes later.
Another fine Gravenberch pass, this time over the top of the
Bologna defence, left Nunez running through, only for his left-footed strike to
not carry the required power to beat Lukasz Skorupski.
Bologna finished fifth in Serie A last season, their best
position since 1970-71, although manager Thaigo Motta then went to Juventus,
with the club also losing striker Joshua Zirkzee and defender Riccardo
Calafiori to Manchester United and Arsenal respectively.
New boss Vincenzo Italiano, who was the Fiorentina manager
when they twice lost in the Europa Conference League final - including to West
Ham in the final two seasons ago - had only won one of his seven matches before
coming to Anfield.
But Bologna, who face Aston Villa next on 22 October, gave a
good account of themselves and had the hosts worried for a spell - towards the
end of the first half and at the beginning of the second.
However, Salah's wonderful strike settled Liverpool nerves
and made it two wins from two, with a trip to Germany to face RB Leipzig next
up.
