Arne Slot Leads Liverpool To Champions League Victory Over Bologna.
Arne Slot’s debut Champions League home fixture as Liverpool manager resulted in a hard-earned victory, with goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah securing a 2-0 win over a resilient Bologna side at Anfield.
Slot, who replaced Jürgen Klopp in the summer, made history by becoming the first Liverpool manager to win eight of his first nine games in charge. However, his team was made to work for the victory in a match filled with tense moments.
Liverpool took the lead early in the 12th minute when Alexis Mac Allister found the net from close range, finishing off a precise low cross from Mohamed Salah. Despite Liverpool’s strong start, Bologna, competing in their first-ever Champions League campaign, demonstrated why they deserved to be on Europe’s grand stage.
Both teams saw potential goals ruled out for offside—Thijs Dallinga for Bologna and Darwin Núñez for Liverpool—before the Italians rallied towards the end of the first half. Dan Ndoye struck the post, and a mistake by Trent Alexander-Arnold almost cost Liverpool, but Alisson produced a crucial save to deny Kacper Urbanski from equalising.
The second half saw Bologna continue to apply pressure, with Alisson once again called into action, making an excellent stop to deny Riccardo Orsolini, while Urbanski missed a promising opportunity, firing over the bar.
Liverpool eventually secured the win in the 70th minute when Salah curled a sublime shot into the top corner, marking his 49th Champions League goal and confirming Slot’s impressive start to life at Anfield.
The result not only ensured Liverpool’s strong position on the log but also underlined Slot’s managerial credentials, as the Dutchman continues to build on Klopp’s legacy with a series of early successes.