Liverpool 2-0 Bologna: Mo Salah goal and assist provides victory

Mo Salah scored and assisted to give Liverpool victory in a Game which wasn’t always comfortable against Bologna at Anfield.

Liverpool 2-0 Bologna

Champions League (2) | Anfield
October 2, 2024

Goals

Mac Allister 11′ (assist: Salah)
Salah 75′ (assist: Szoboszlai)

The convoluted new Champions League format saw Liverpool back at Anfield in Europe’s top competition for the first time since their heaviest home defeat in Europe, against Real Madrid 20 months ago.

Much has changed since then, with Arne Slot now overseeing his first European Game in charge and only six of the side starting that night doing so vs. Bologna.

Slot made just one change to the side that beat Wolves on the weekend, that enforced due to injury to Diogo Jota, with Darwin Nunez replacing him up front.

Liverpool, as expected, dominated from the off and the first goal arrived after just 11 minutes.

A lovely team move was finished from close range by Alexis Mac Allister after Mo Salah‘s cross put it on a plate for the Argentine.

But after a comfortable start, Bologna had a succession of excellent chances from the half hour; hitting the bar, the post, and forcing Alisson into a good save. Liverpool’s sloppy play wasn’t helpful.

Half time: Liverpool 1-0 Bologna

The second half continued with the Italian visitors enjoying the better of the ball and the chances.

Nunez was hooked on the hour after a very ineffective performance.

One player who wasn’t ineffective was Mo Salah and it was the Egytpian who followed up his fifth assist of the season with his sixth goal of the season with 15 to play.

The Reds’ No.11 curled a trademark effort into the far corner in front of the Kop. A beauty.

Liverpool’s 250th Game in the European Cup / Champions League ended in victory, with two wins from the opening two ‘group stage’ Games this season.

TIA Man of the Match: Mo Salah

Referee: Nikola Dabanovic (MNE)

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold (Bradley 85′), Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson (Tsimikas 71′); Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai (Jones 85′); Salah, Nunez (Jota 61′), Diaz (Gakpo 72′)

Subs not used: Kelleher, Jaros, Gomez, Quansah, Endo, Morton, Nyoni

Bologna: Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler; Orsolini, Moro, Urbanski, Ndoye; Dallinga

Subs: Bagnolini, Ravaglia, Holm, Erlic, Castro, Iling-Junior, Casale, Corazza, Aebischer, Odgaard, Lykogiannis, Fabbian

Next Match: Crystal Palace (away, Saturday, 5 October)