Liverpool took a massively crucial 2-0 win against Bologna at Anfield in the second round of the 2024/25 Champions League, in a match where the Reds were showing strength but also how much more work was due. With standout performances from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah, who scored the goals sealing this important win for the team in their second victory in the competition, everything went according to plan. Reaching beyond the realm of a game win, it was history for coach Arne Slot, who became the only Liverpool manager to win eight of his first nine games in charge.
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Arne Slot's record-breaking feat
Arne Slot, signed to see a continued legacy from the mercurial Jürgen Klopp, achieved a feat unparalleled in history: no manager in Liverpool history had obtained eight wins out of the first nine matches as manager. However, Slot remained very modest about the feat. "It's nice the record," he said in the post-game interview, "but I hope to do more special things than just winning eight of the first nine games."
Liverpool vs Bologna
In the game with Bologna, Liverpool had an opponent who didn't lie down. Accordingly, the first goal of the match appeared precisely on time, with Alexis Mac Allister heading in a perfect cross from the right. Sharp off the Argentine midfielder-who's slowly but surely becoming a key figure in Slot's system-showed that Liverpool have a number of goal-scoring threats outside of their usual forwards.
Then Bologna started to become a better threat than they were supposed to. The Italian side broke open Liverpool's backline, more than once, especially towards the end of the first half. Slot even admitted to this patch in his interview, as well, when he mentioned that the need for improvement was there.
"There was a period in the game where we lost control, and they were threatening more than I'd like to see."
That penetratingly unstable stretch was a reminder that Liverpool is still adapting to the new style of the coach. But the individual quality of the players saw them hold the advantage anyway. Of course, Salah will seal this.
Salah's brilliance: a stunner and a record
Mohamed Salah was once again instrumental in a Liverpool victory. The Egyptian forward scored the second goal of the match with a fine left-footed shot that extended the Reds' lead. Slot was full of praise for Salah's performance:
"If you get him in those positions often enough, he'll score. The finish was fantastic.".
Not only was he lethal with his finishing, but the assist was beautifully provided in the build-up to the goal. Again, this cemented the fact that even after years at the top, he remains an integral part of Liverpool's attack. More important, this goal added another feather to Salah's remarkable journey at the club, and definitely, there is more to come.