Liverpool 2-0 Bologna: Arne Slot and Mo Salah enjoy record-breaking nights in Champions League victory

Liverpool emerged victorious from their last UEFA Champions League game with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Bologna and moved ever closer to their place in the top eight. Having picked up six points from two games, Arne Slot's men showed moments of brilliance, although there were some areas where improvement could be made. As Dave Davis noted on the Daily Red Podcast, “We are two out of two,” clearly signaling Liverpool’s strong start. Let's take a look at the key takeaways from the game and how Liverpool fared against a Bologna side that put up some resistance.

Mo Salah: The Egyptian king continues his rule

Mo Salah's presence on the pitch once again proved crucial. With his second-half goal, Salah broke Didier Drogba's record and became the top African goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League. “He’s now at 45, overtaking Drogba’s 44,” Davis pointed out. The Egyptian star, who Davis called “a walking demigod”, continues to shine for Liverpool, scoring six goals and five assists in nine games this season.

Salah's goal, described as “a fantastic finish”, came from a well-placed cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold. Reflecting on Salah's contributions, Davis added: “The curling into the top corner last night, that almost felt like the spirit of 17/18 had returned, didn't it?”

Ryan Gravenberch impresses again

Ryan Gravenberch continues to impress in Liverpool colors and delivered an outstanding performance against Bologna. Described by Davis as “brilliant”, Gravenberch played a central role in midfield, combining vision with technical ability. Davis praised the Dutchman's performance: “Nine ball wins, most passes into the final third, 100% of his duels won, three out of four dribbles – he showed from the first seconds of this game that he was serious.”

Gravenberch's work rate and intelligent movement in the middle of the park, particularly when combined with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, have given Liverpool a new dimension. As Davis put it: “That midfield balance between you, Maca and Gravenberch works wonders.”

Bologna's tactics test Liverpool's resilience

Despite the win, the podcast was about moments when Bologna applied pressure, particularly through their aggressive man-to-man pressing. This led to some challenges, particularly in the closing stages of the first half, where Davis noted: “There was a period in the game where we had no control and they threatened us more than I would like to see.” He added: ” Allison and Trent’s decision making wasn’t the best at times.”

However, Liverpool managed to maintain their composure and exploit the spaces created by Bologna's high pressing, a strategy that brought them joy on more than one occasion. With Liverpool's quality, such as Trent's assists and Salah's finishing, they ultimately outperformed the Italians.

Arne Slot: Liverpool's new taskmaster

Under the watchful eye of Arne Slot, Liverpool is becoming a well-oiled machine. As Davis explained, Slot doesn't settle for anything less than perfection: “You're always striving for perfection, but you'll never achieve it,” Slot admitted after the game. This relentless pursuit of excellence has led to Liverpool performing consistently across all competitions and fans have begun to warm to Slot's approach, even if he remains a “tough taskmaster”, as Davis put it.

With Slot, Liverpool's future looks bright. The coach's high standards, coupled with his tactical flexibility, have made Liverpool a serious contender not only in the Champions League but also domestically.

Next stop: The road to Liverpool

Liverpool's win over Bologna means they are in a strong position in their group. However, even tougher tests lie ahead as October proves to be a crucial month for the slot team. As Davis warned: “There are tougher tests yet to come,” but with the strength of the squad, which includes players like Salah, Gravenberch and Szoboszlai, the Reds are well-equipped for what lies ahead.

In summary, while the win over Bologna was not without its challenges, Liverpool's quality clearly stood out. As the season progresses, Arne Slot's men will undoubtedly build on their positive start and fans are excited to see how far this team can go.