Liverpool vs Bologna LIVE!

Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah got on the scoresheet as Liverpool beat Bologna 2-0 on Wednesday to remain perfect in their Champions League campaign. A rousing atmosphere greeted Arne Slot and his team who had beaten AC Milan 3-1 away in their opener, and Liverpool did not disappoint, with Mac Allister scoring in the 11th minute, tapping in Salah's pinpoint cross from close range.

The Argentinian midfielder's first goal of the season came less than two minutes after Bologna's Thijs Dallinga slotted the ball past Liverpool keeper Alisson, but it was disallowed for offside. Liverpool were denied a second goal in the 17th minute when Darwin Nunez sprinted onto a pass before calmly firing home past Lukasz Skorupski, but the Uruguayan was flagged for offside.

After narrowly missing several scoring chances, Reds talisman Salah finally connected in the 75th minute for his 49th Champions League goal, touching the ball past Juan Miranda before curling a rocket into the top right corner.

Liverpool vs Bologna latest updates

• GOAL! Salah makes history with stunning goal

• GOAL! Mac Allister taps home the opener

Full-time!

21:51 , Alex Young

94min: Liverpool rode their luck, but it’s job done on matchday two.

21:47 , Alex Young

90min: Tsimikas now booked as three minutes added on.

21:43 , Alex Young

85min: Alexander-Arnold’s time is up, along with Szoboszlai.

Bradley and Jones are on.

21:41 , Alex Young

81min: Mac Allister almost adds a second, but is denied by the onrushing keeper.

21:34 , Alex Young

Salah is now the first Liverpool player to score in five Champions League home games in a row.

GOAL!

21:33 , Alex Young

75min: That’ll wrap it up!

Salah bends a beauty into the far top corner. A sickener for Bologna.

21:31

74min: Bologna boosting the majority of possession. That’s some going at Anfield.

21:28 , Alex Young

71min: Robertson and Diaz make way.

21:26 , Alex Young

69min: Gakpo and Tsimikas being readied.

21:25 , Alex Young

67min: Oh, that looked painful. Aebischer with a late one of Mac Allister, who just about skips out of serious trouble but still caught.

The sub is booked.

CLOSE!

21:20 , Alex Young

63min: Almost the magic goal for Salah, who curls a shot from 18 yards just wide of the far post.

21:19 , Alex Young

62min: Changes for Bologna as Sam Beukema and Urbanski are replaced by Casalr and Aebischer.

21:18 , Alex Young

61min: Jota replaces Nunez.

21:16 , Alex Young

59min: To the surprise of no one, except perhaps the man himself, Nunez is coming off before the hour mark.

21:14 , Alex Young

57min: Bologna cueing up now as Urbanski drills an effort well over. Dreadful effort from a good position.

21:13 , Alex Young

56min: From the free kick, Bologna work the ball across the pitch and into the area to allow Orsolini to drill at Alisson at the near post.

Should have done better!

21:12 , Alex Young

55min: Robertson booked, and this one is fair.

21:11 , Alex Young

54min: Both teams struggling with finding that final ball or guilty of a sloppy pass in the build-up at the moment. Need to get back firing after the break.

21:08 , Alex Young

51min: First sight of goal since the break as Mac Allister tries to slip Alexander-Arnold into the area, but the pass has a tad too much spice on it.

21:05 , Alex Young

48min: Ndoye welcomed back into the game by a strong shoulder barge from Dias.

Second half

21:02 , Alex Young

46min: Back underway, no changes.

21:01 , Alex Young

Any changes at the break from either team? Bologna may fancy rolling the dice in this one-off game.

20:52 , Alex Young

So, Mac Allister’s goal is the difference but Liverpool have not had it all their own way.

Bologna have had a goal disallowed and hit the crossbar and then post.

HALF-TIME!

20:46 , Alex Young

47min: ...and there’s the break!

20:46 , Alex Young

46min: Into one minute of added time as Van Dijk goes to ground at a corner routine but the referee isn’t interested in weak penalty appeals.

20:44 , Alex Young

44min: Nunez doesn’t stop running, it’s just not always into the right space or in the right direction.

20:39 , Alex Young

39min: Yellow card apiece for Konate and Beukema for some pushing before a corner.

Those also looked harsh.

20:38 , Alex Young

37min: Almost an opening for Liverpool but Diaz delays his pass to Salah by half a second and allows Bologna to hack clear.

Liverpool appear to have weather the Bologna storm.

SAVE!

20:33 , Alex Young

33min: Urbanski now forcing Alisson into a very smart save to his right.

The Bologna man should have done better.

OFF THE POST!

20:32 , Alex Young

32min: Bologna are really pushing!

First a beauty of a ball from Moro is headed back across goal and hits a team-mate. Then Ndoye hits the post from close range!

20:30 , Alex Young

30min: Nunez makes a yard for himself and hammers a half-volley well over the bar.

OFF THE BAR!

20:29 , Alex Young

28min: Liverpool playing themselves into trouble.

Alisson boots the ball short to Gravenberch, Bologna intercept, work it into the area and Ndoye’s effort deflects onto the crossbar!

20:27 , Alex Young

26min: Van Dijk into the book for a elbow Dallinga. Looked harsh, that. No intent.

20:23 , Alex Young

23min: First shot on target from Nunez, who collects a high ball on the turn and sends a weak volley straight at Solokorupski.

He probably had more time than he realised.

20:21 , Alex Young

21min: A first corner for Bologna as Robertson boots behind under pressure from Moro.

Urbanski whips it in... and it’s straight onto a Liverpool head.

20:18 , Alex Young

17min: Liverpool look so confident going forward, even Nunez who was key in the opening goal to spot Salah in space out wide.

20:14

14min: Salah straight back at it as Liverpool push for a second, driving into the Bologna half before being fouled.

GOAL!

20:12 , Alex Young

11min: That one counts!

Mac Allister starts and ends this one. First finding Nunez on the edge of the area, continues his run into the box and is found by Salah for a tap in.

NO GOAL!

20:10 , Alex Young

9min: Well, that was a better finish as Dallinga thinks he has scored against the run of play, running through a dinking past Alisson... but he’s a yard offside.

20:08 , Alex Young

8min: Deary me. First sight of goal for Bologna and it’s one to forget as Dallinga lines one up and finds Row Z.

20:04 , Alex Young

4min: As expected, Liverpool out of the traps quickly and in control.

A stunning long ball over the top from Van Dijk to Salah looks to send the forward down the flank but Bologna hoof clear at the second attempt.

20:03 , Alex Young

2min: Liverpool should be ahead!

Brilliant from Salah and Alexander-Arnold down the left releases Gravenberch to drill across the face of goal, but Nunez is not quick enough to tap in at the far post.

KICK-OFF!

20:00 , Alex Young

1min: Here we go!

20:00 , Alex Young

Bologna, back in this competition for the first time in 60 years, will need to be at their best to come away from anything.

Liverpool are looking for a 10th win from 11 games this season. Bologna have won one in six.

19:55 , Alex Young

A usual pre-match anthem - you know the one - is being bleated out in the stands. Here come the players.

19:47 , Alex Young

Anfield is filling up. Kick-off in just under 15 minutes.

19:33 , Alex Young

It’s a double celebration for Alisson tonight, who makes his 50th European appearance for Liverpool... and it’s his birthday. He turns 32 years old today.

19:26

It is four changes for Bologna from their 1-1 draw with Atalanta.

Miranda, Moro, Urbanski and Dallinga come in. Young English winger Samuel Iling-Junior, who joined Aston Villa from Juventus in the summer, is a substitute.

19:19 , Alex Young

Bologna XI: Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler; Orsolini, Moro, Urbanski, Ndoye; Dallinga

Subs: Bagnolini, Ravaglia, Holm, Erlic, Castro, Iling-Junior, Casale, Corazza, Aebischer, Odgaard, Lykogiannis, Fabbian

Bologna XI

19:17 , Alex Young

Here we go!

19:06 , Alex Young

Still waiting for Bologna to confirmed that XI, but it sounds like four changes have been made.

18:57

It’s just one change for Liverpool as Nunez comes in for Jota, who is on the bench.

Tsimikas and Gakpo started last week against AC Milan, but join Jota as substitutes.

18:53 , Alex Young

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez

Subs: Kelleher, Jaros, Endo, Gomez, Jones, Gakpo, Jota, Tsimikas, Quansah, Bradley, Nyoni, Morton

Liverpool XI

18:47 , Alex Young

Here’s how the hosts line up!

Slot warns against complacency

18:35 , Alex Young

Liverpool are strong favourites to add to the impressive win over AC Milan in the San Siro a fortnight ago against a team which finished fifth in Serie A last season but one which has only won once in seven matches.

However, Arne Slot warned against complacency from either his players or fans and said both should use the pain of missing out on Champions League football last season as motivation - should any be needed.

"They have missed out on the Champions League for a year so when they step out on the pitch tomorrow I want to see this, I want to feel like they feel 'Ah, we missed it for a season'.

"A club of this standard has to be ready and I'm hoping and expecting the same from our fans.

"They have missed it for a season and I am hoping they feel this desire to show to Europe again 'They missed us because of this' and that combination should hopefully lead to a very special night for everyone involved at Liverpool."

Arne Slot is not messing about

18:19 , Alex Young

Arne Slot will not accept mediocrity from his Liverpool team and does not believe the players do either.

The Dutchman has enjoyed an almost dream start to his tenure at Anfield - the defeat to Nottingham Forest apart - with seven wins in eight matches leaving his side top of the Premier League.

Should they beat Champions League debutants Bologna, Slot will become the first man in the club's history to win eight of his first nine games in charge.

"We as a team, if you have so much quality, you cannot accept mediocrity," he said. “You have to ask from yourself every second of the day, every second of the game, the highest standards that this shirt brings.

"I, and we as a staff, have to set those standards very clear and that last 15 minutes when we lost the ball so many times in promising positions or moments that could lead to promising positions is maybe not acceptable.

"I don't lose my temper that much, I don't think it is a good idea to lose your temper every single day because it doesn't work. But the positive thing is that maybe I don't accept mediocrity but these players themselves don't accept it as well.

"It is not only about me not accepting it, the players don't accept it from themselves also."

18:16 , Alex Young

Team news shouldn’t be too far away.

18:05 , Alex Young

Just under two hours until kick-off and plenty of fans are milling around Anfield. Champions League nights are back.

Liverpool vs Bologna prediction

17:57 , Alex Young

It’s very difficult to look past Liverpool at home here, particularly given their flying start to the new Slot era - shock Anfield defeat to Nottingham Forest aside.

The confident Reds have been picking up wins of all varieties, brushing aside the likes of Manchester United, West Ham and Bournemouth but also battling hard for victories over teams such as Wolves and demonstrating their fightback qualities in Milan.

Bologna have endured a tough opening to the new season under former Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Italiano, winning just once across all competitions and playing out too many draws.

They are clearly suffering from having their best players and manager move on over the summer and a difficult night is likely to be in store on Merseyside.

Liverpool to win, 2-0.

Bologna team news: Ferguson still out

17:50 , Alex Young

Scotland international Lewis Ferguson is still out for Bologna, along with fellow midfielders Tommaso Pobega and Oussama El Azzouzi.

Striker Santiago Castro is a doubt, but Jhon Lucumi is available in defence despite being sent off in the 1-1 draw with Atalanta at the weekend.

Liverpool team news: Chiesa out but Jota shakes off scare

17:42 , Alex Young

Federico Chiesa will be absent tonight after picking up a minor injury in training, but is not expected to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines and could return for Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot said at a press conference on Tuesday: “Federico trained yesterday, came in today and [we’re] not expecting him to play. Pity for us but more for him as looking forward to Anfield and against an Italian team.

“Difficult because it happened yesterday but I’m not expecting him to be out for a long time. We will have to see for Saturday.”

Diogo Jota was absent from training on Tuesday with a reported foot injury but Slot has confirmed that he will still be available against Bologna. Darwin Nunez missed the weekend win at Wolves through illness but has since recovered.

Slot was forced to withdraw left-back Andy Robertson late on at Molineux, though the Scotland defender has trained in the build-up to tonight’s Champions League home opener.

Harvey Elliot remains a long-term injury absentee, with the midfielder expected to be out until the end of October.

Liverpool overcame a scare in their opening Champions League game to beat AC Milan 3-1 at the San Siro last month.

Where to watch Liverpool vs Bologna

17:35 , Alex Young

TV channel: Tonight’s game will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 2, with coverage beginning at 7pm BST ahead of an 8pm kick-off.

Live stream: Subscribers will also be able to watch on a live stream online via the Discovery+ app and website.

Welcome

17:31 , Alex Young

Good evening and welcome to the Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Champions League game between Liverpool and Bologna.

Arne Slot takes charge of his first European game at Anfield, and will be confident of making it back-to-back wins against Italian opponents.

AC Milan were dispatched in gameweek 1 and now Bologna, in the competition for the first time in 60 years have started the season poorly under new manager Vincenzo Italiano.

Kick-off is at 8pm. Stick with us.