Mohamed Salah and Alexis Mac Allister were on target as Liverpool maintained their 100% start in the UEFA Champions League with a 2-0 win over Bologna at Anfield.

The Reds made a supercharged start and took the lead after eleven minutes when Mac Allister tapped in Salah’s sensational throw to score his first-ever goal in Europe’s premier competition.

Bologna had their moments, hitting the woodwork twice late in the first period, but could not find the goal to dampen the mood of the home crowd.

A cagey second half followed until Salah became the first Reds player to score in five consecutive Champions League home games with a sublime curler in 75 minutes.

Liverpool will then look to maintain their place at the Premier League summit when they visit Crystal Palace on Saturday. Mid-tier Bologna hosts Parma in Serie A on Sunday.

Perfect in Europe and at the top of the English top flight. It’s fair to say that Liverpool’s start under Arne Slot continues to shine with continued promise.

The surprising 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in September remains the only blemish on an otherwise excellent record. Indeed, the Dutchman is the first Liverpool manager in the club’s illustrious history to oversee eight wins from his first nine games at the helm.

It remains a work in progress as the Merseysiders transition from the Jürgen Klopp era to the former Feyenoord boss’ philosophy, but despite clear evidence of areas that need improvement in the future, the players have produced the goods with positive results to keep the platform for what they hope will bring greater rewards later.

There are undoubtedly bigger tests ahead of Liverpool, especially in a tough period after the October internationals, with games against Chelsea and Arsenal, but they have delivered a favorable run of games and look solid defensively too.

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool). In a tight game that was fiercely contested for a long time, it was the Egyptian who made the decisive contribution; First he produced a spellbinding assist for Mac Allister before easing any late nerves with a trademark strike from the right.

LIVERPOOL: Alisson 8, Alexander-Arnold 6, Robertson 7, Van Dijk 8, Konate 7, Mac Allister 8, Gravenberch 8, Diaz 6, Szoboszlai 7, Salah 8*, Nunez 6. Subs: Jota 6, Tsimikas 6, Gakpo 6, Jones N/A, Bradley N/A

BOLOGNA: Skorupski 7, Miranda 7, Beukema 6, Lucumi 6, Posch 7, Moro 6, Freuler 6, Urbanski 7, Ndoye 7, Dallinga 6, Orsolini 7. Subs: Aebischer 6, Casale 6, Iling-Junior n/a, Castro n. /a, Fabbian n/a

11′ – GOAL! – Liverpool 1-0 Bologna: (Mac Allister). Salah’s beautiful ball from the right into the six-yard box begs for an easy finish and Mac Allister is there to volley home from close range.

32′ – BOLOGNA CHANCE! A devilish ball from the right ends up in the far post, but Riccardo Orsolini’s header is blocked by his own man in the six-yard box. The visitors come again, but Dan Ndoye’s eight-meter goal hits the outside of the post.

75′ – GOAL! – Liverpool 2-0 Bologna: (Salah). Salah drives in from the right and uses TAA’s overlap to create space for a brilliant strike into the far corner.