Perhaps the best part of this game was the post-match interview by Arne Slot. When told he is the first Liverpool manager to win eight of his first nine, he replied: “I hope you remember me for something more special than this.” The two goals were also quite special as Champions League football returned to Anfield with a victory. It wasn’t always comfortable and it wasn’t a particularly memorable match, 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 rightly booed.

Mo Salah: Still the superstar

The Egyptian king loves this match, as we all know. On another night he could have had even more, but for the waste of a teammate or because he simply didn’t make the right pass. However, the two moments of genius came from him. Salah’s sublime curling cross was put on the board for Alexis Mac Allister to bag the opener for his home debut in the Champions League early. The second was vintage, when he cut in a pass from Szoboszlai and curled one past the Bologna keeper into the top corner like it was 17/18 all over again. In nine games so far, he has provided six goals and five assists. About that new contract, Richard Hughes!

Gravenberch Brilliant….Again!

Any suggestion that anyone would be tired of saying this should be shot down immediately. Ryan Gravenberch was again sensational for Liverpool in this match. From the first minute when he dropped the shoulder on the half turn in the middle and drove forward, you knew what was coming.

The Dutch maestro also figures well in the statistics as usual, on the day DataMB classified him as the best current midfielder in the competition. 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 also created 2 chances. 8 games is not a flash and Slot once again declared him excellent.

Make your own problems

Any problems in this match seemed to be of Liverpool’s own making and there were times when you could hear the jitters in Anfield. Alisson and Trent in particular were perhaps too casual, it’s fair to say they were in possession, and Bologna did their own Nunez impression with the post and woodwork rattling in both halves. Perhaps there is something about these Italian teams pressing so man-for-man that can make things difficult at times.

To be fair, there were a few good saves from Alisson, but it was a successful and mature performance from the red team. Too bad the same can’t be said about a card-happy referee in this one, who booked Konate and the Bologna defender for consistently putting in crazy performances. Let’s hope those yellows matter later.