Liverpool 2-0 Bologna – What Did We Learn?

Maybe the best part of this game was the post match interview from Arne Slot. Upon being told he’s the first Liverpool manager to win 8 out of his first 9, he replied “I hope you remember me for something more special than this.” The two goals were pretty special too, as champions league football came back to Anfield with a victory. It wasn’t always comfortable and it wasn’t a particularly memorable game, but it’s another three points in the strange quest to make the top eight. We look at the lessons learned from Bologna under the lights as players were cheered and UEFA anthems were quite rightly booed.

Mo Salah: Still The Superstar

The Egyptian king loves this competition as we all know. On another night he could have had even more, but for the wastefulness of a team-mates or just not quite making the right pass. However, the two moments of genius came from him. Salah’s sublime curling cross was put on a plate for Alexis Mac Allister to get the opener n his champions league home debut early doors. The second was vintage, as he cut inside from a Szoboszlai pass and curled one past the Bologna keeper into the top corner like it was 17/18 again. In 9 games, he has 6 goals and 5 assists already so far. About that new contract Richard Hughes eh!

Gravenberch Brilliant….Again!

Any suggestion that anyone should be tired of saying this needs shooting down immediately. Ryan Gravenberch was simply sensational yet again for Liverpool in this one. From the first minute when he dropped the shoulder on the half turn in the middle and drive forward you knew what was coming.

The Dutch maestro shows up well in the stats again as normal too, on the day DataMB classed him as the best current midfielder on the league. Gravenberch made the most recoveries (9) and completed the most passes into the final third (7). He also won 100% of his tackles (1/1), completed 3/4 dribbles and created 2 chances as well. 8 games is no flash in the on and Slot declared him outstanding again.

Make Your Own Trouble

Any trouble in this one seemed of Liverpool’s making and there were times you could hear the jitters in Anfield. Alisson and Trent especially were maybe too casual it’s fair to say in possession and Bologna did their own Nunez impression with the post and woodwork rattled in both halves. Maybe there’s something with these Italian teams that so press man-for-man, which can make it troublesome at times.

Truth be told though, there was a few good Alisson saves, but it was an accomplished and mature performance from the reds. Shame the same can’t be said about a card happy ref in this one, who booked Konate and the Bologna defender for jostling in a consistently crazy performance. Let’s hope those yellows matter little later on.