There will be tougher tests to come, as Arne Slot regularly reminds Liverpool, but the confidence, quality and momentum flowing through this team under the leadership of the new head coach is unquestionable. Slot became the first Liverpool manager in history to record eight wins from his first nine games in charge as Bologna were dispatched in a hard-fought match at Anfield.

Alexis Mac Allister marked his first Champions League home game for Liverpool with his first goal of the season. Mohamed Salah destroyed Bologna’s growing hopes of a point with a stunning second-half strike, extending his European goalscoring record for the club during Liverpool’s 250th appearance in the Champions League/European Cup. A new leader, a new era it may be, but Liverpool’s authority on the European stage remains unchanged.

Bologna earned Liverpool’s respect, Slot emphasized, after qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history last season with a club record 68 points. Their boisterous, sell-out away support certainly applied to their first away trip in the competition. Slot was also aware of the problems Liverpool had against Atalanta’s man-marking style in the Europa League last season. But the respect had to come with the recognition that Bologna subsequently lost the coach who led them to the Champions League, Thiago Motta who joined Juventus in the summer, along with striker Joshua Zirkzee and defender Riccardo Calafiori to Manchester United and Arsenal respectively.

The Italians looked weakened and uncertain in their new, exalted company during a dominant opening twenty minutes from Liverpool, who took a deserved lead through Mac Allister. The celebration of a Thijs Dallinga goal in Bologna, deftly clipped over Alisson but then clearly offside, had only just been cut short when the Liverpool midfielder advanced to find Darwin Núñez on the edge of the penalty area. Núñez released Salah into space on the right and the Egypt international delivered a brilliant cross behind a static visiting midfielder. After encouraging the move, Mac Allister completed the move by getting behind three Bologna players and volleying past Lukasz Skorupski from close range.

Liverpool looked to be in rampant form. Núñez beat Bologna’s goalkeeper with a convincing finish, but was offside when he collected Trent Alexander-Arnold’s pass. Dominik Szoboszlai’s daisy-cutter rolled inches wide of the far post after a smooth exchange with Salah.

But then the sloppiness that crept into Liverpool’s game against Wolves on Saturday and led Slot to criticize the ‘mediocrity’ he will not accept, reared its ugly head again. The momentum was transferred to Bologna, along with several opportunities to draw. Striker Dan Ndoye had Ibrahima Konaté’s shot hit the crossbar, with Alisson seemingly beaten after Szoboszlai lost possession outside his own penalty area. Riccardo Orsolini headed a free header against teammate Dallinga when he was found unnoticed at the back post by Nikola Moro’s dangerous free kick. Liverpool failed to clear the danger and after Alisson cleared Juan Miranda’s low cross, Ndoye fired against the base of a post. Bologna’s pressure and Liverpool’s mistakes continued and Alisson made a fine save to deny Kacper Urbanski as Ndoye dispossessed Alexander-Arnold and gave the midfielder a clear view of goal.

Liverpool regained their composure and rhythm before the break. Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch were central to the improvement and Núñez had a decent chance to double the hosts’ lead, but struck straight at Skorupski. However, Bologna, 13th in Serie A and with just one win in all competitions to their name this season, continued to trouble Liverpool.

Orsolini struck straight at Alisson when he was picked out unmarked and just six yards from the Brazilian’s goal by Miranda’s deep cross. Urbanski got another clear opening from Ndoye when the forward Alexander-Arnold crossed and found the midfielder in space twenty yards out. Urbanski shot over. Bologna captain Remo Freuler also came close, but to an own goal when he deflected Andy Robertson’s corner just wide of his far post.

Any concerns Liverpool may have had about Bologna’s continued threat were extinguished by the continued brilliance of Salah’s left foot.

The club’s leading marksman in European competition produced a stunning signature finish to decide the match with 15 minutes remaining. After receiving Szoboszlai’s pass at the corner of the visitors’ penalty area and using Alexander-Arnold’s overlapping run as bait, Salah stepped over left-back Miranda and curled an unstoppable shot into Skorupski’s top right corner. It was the 32-year-old’s ninth goal in his last nine Champions League appearances and his 48th goal in a total of 77 European games for Liverpool. He also almost provided a stunning assist for Mac Allister, but the Bologna keeper made a brave save at the midfielder’s feet as Liverpool finished the match in control.