Looking to extend their winning streak even further, Liverpool will host Bologna at Anfield for their Champions League matchday two clash on Wednesday evening.
The Reds kicked off their Champions League campaign under Arne Slot’s leadership with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Serie A giants AC Milan.
They’ll take on their Italian counterparts, brimming with the confidence of making it two wins in as many games, against a Bologna side that were held to a goalless draw by Shakhtar Donetsk on matchday one.
Slot has enjoyed a remarkable start to life as Liverpool manager, with his side welcoming Bologna on the back of a four-match streak across all competitions.
Liverpool have always been famous for having one of the most passionate fan bases in England, and the club faithful will swarm Anfield in their numbers to cheer the Reds to a potential victory.
A lot of them secured their tickers from Seatsnet.com, and others keen to catch the Champions League action live can also patronise the trusted marketplace to get the best seats in the stands.
Match Preview
Liverpool’s knack for comebacks against Milan resurfaced in their recent Champions League clash.
While it wasn’t a repeat of their famous 2005 Istanbul heroics, the Reds still had to battle from behind to secure a 3-1 win over their old rivals.
Christian Pulisic drew first blood for Milan in the early stages, but Liverpool’s resilience quickly came to the fore.
Defensive duo Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk exploited Milan’s frailty from set-pieces to turn the game in Liverpool’s favour.
Dominik Szoboszlai then capped off the victory midway through the second half, slotting in a third with his thigh to seal a commanding performance.
That victory over Paulo Fonseca’s Milan marked the start of a four-game winning streak for Liverpool, underlining their recent surge in form.
Slot’s well-drilled side followed up the Champions League success with a 5-1 EFL Cup demolition of West Ham United, replicating their dominance from last year’s clash.
They also secured back-to-back Premier League wins over Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Despite some tough moments against Wolves, a Mohamed Salah penalty ensured Liverpool took all three points, which – combined with Manchester City dropping points at Newcastle United – pushed the Reds to the top of the Premier League table.
With Man City and Arsenal also vying for the Premier League title, the stage is set for a thrilling three-way race at the summit of English football.
After Thiago Motta led Bologna back into European football for the first time in six decades, the Rossoblu’s resurgence was briefly interrupted by their coach’s departure to a struggling Juventus.
Bologna’s last appearance in the European Cup dated back to the 1964/65 season, and Motta’s sudden exit left the team at a crossroads.
However, the club turned to former Fiorentina manager Vincenzo Italiano, who took the Viola to two Europa Conference League finals and a Coppa Italia final, although he lost all three.
Italiano’s reign at Bologna has been defined by tight contests and stalemates. His side began their European campaign with a 0-0 draw against Shakhtar Donetsk in a rain-soaked Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
Following the high-profile departures of Joshua Zirkzee and Riccardo Calafiori to the Premier League, Bologna have struggled to match their incredible achievements from the 2023/24 season, claiming just one win in seven games this season.
Despite their challenges, Bologna showcased their fighting spirit in their most recent Serie A clash.
Reduced to ten men for much of the second half, they were seconds away from defeating Europa League champions Atalanta.
However, a last-minute goal from Lazar Samardzic denied them a famous victory, and the game ended 1-1, marking their fourth draw in five matches.
Sitting in 13th place in Serie A, Bologna head into their first-ever competitive meeting with six-time European champions Liverpool with a point to prove.
Though wins have been hard to come by, their resilience suggests they won’t be easily dismissed.
Key Stats
Liverpool are set to extend their remarkable European home run as they welcome Bologna to Anfield on Wednesday.
The Reds boast an impressive record, having won their last ten group/league stage matches at home in European competition.
They’ve also scored at least two goals in each of the last nine, making Anfield a fortress on continental nights.
However, Liverpool’s last group-stage defeat at home came against an Italian side – Atalanta – who pulled off a 2-0 upset in November 2020.
Now, Bologna will become the 10th different Italian team Liverpool has faced in European competition, joining the likes of Inter Milan, Juventus, and Napoli.
Bologna, on the other hand, have limited experience against English clubs, with their last encounter coming in the 2002 Intertoto Cup against Fulham.
In major European competition, they haven’t faced an English side since the 1966/67 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, where they were eliminated by Leeds United in a coin toss after a 1-1 aggregate draw.
Bologna manager Italiano will also be eager to improve his personal record against English teams, having lost 2-1 with Fiorentina to West Ham United in the 2023 Europa Conference League final.
While Liverpool will aim to maintain their continental dominance, Bologna will hope to break their Italian curse and defy the odds at Anfield.
With both teams set to make history in their first-ever meeting, it promises to be an exciting clash under the European lights.
Team news & potential line-ups
Liverpool did not leave Molineux unscathed at the weekend, as Andrew Robertson limped off following a heavy challenge from Carlos Forbs.
After the game, Slot played down the severity of Robertson’s injury, but the Scottish left-back will likely sit out the Champions League game as a precaution.
Konstantinos Tsimikas was an unused substitute against Wolves and will likely stand in for Robertson at left-back.
Darwin Nunez missed the win over Wolves with an illness but could come into the starting XI in place of the injured Diogo Jota, although Harvey Elliott is still a long-term absentee with a fractured foot.
As for Bologna, striker Santiago Casto will undergo a late fitness test to confirm his availability for the trip to Anfield after he was forced off the pitch in their most recent outing.
Summer signing Thijs Dallinga is in contention to lead the line in Castro’s place and will be hoping to end his five-game goal drought against the Premier League giants.
Liverpool potential starting line-ups:
(4-3-3): Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Konstantinos Tsimikas; Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister; Mohamed Salah, Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo; Darwin Nunez.
Bologna potential starting line-ups:
(4-3-3): Lukasz Skorupski; Stefan Posch, Sam Beukema, Jhon Lucumi, Charalampos Lykogiannis; Michel Aebischer, Nikola Moro, Remo Freuler; Riccardo Orsolini, Thijs Dallinga, Dan Ndoye.
