Liverpool maintained their winning start to their Champions League campaign after securing a 2-0 victory over Bologna on Wednesday night, thank to goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah.
After a fantastic start to the season for Arne Slot, one star in particular was at their silky best once again on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile another Red will plague their opposite number’s nightmares following the game.
But it wasn’t all stunning performances for the victorious side, with one of Slot’s men enduring another struggle to get going under the lights at Anfield.
Here, Mail Sport’s LEWIS STEELE provides player ratings for the Reds as they made it two wins from two in club football’s greatest competition.
Mohamed Salah scored a trademark, curling strike as Liverpool beat Bologna on Wednesday
The Reds have now secured two wins from their opening two games in the Champions League
Alexis Mac Allister (left) opened the scoring with a tap-in from close range at Anfield
Alisson – 7.5
Was needed to bail out Liverpool when Kacper Urbanski had a powerful effort and also when Riccardo Orsolini had a shot after the break. Alisson made several exquisite long passes to unleash Salah and Co on the counter-attack, too.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6.5
Some beautiful moments, including what would have been a stellar assist for Nunez if the Uruguayan was not slightly offside and several other key passes. But also some sloppy touches, giving the ball away twice in a minute in the first half as Bologna threatened.
Ibrahima Konate – 7 (Booked)
Received one of the more bizarre yellow cards you will see after a tussle with Sam Beukema when attacking a corner. Defended well as he has all season with several key interventions.
Virgil van Dijk – 6.5 (Booked)
Another soft yellow left both Liverpool centre backs on a disciplinary tightrope in the second half. Van Dijk dealt with Bologna with calmness as ever.
Andy Robertson – 7 (Booked)
Made some threatening forays forward on the left wing and put in some testing corners from the right side. Robertson has started the season well and looks fitter than he did last term.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (right) had some beautiful moments, including what would have been a stellar assist for Darwin Nunez if the Uruguayan was not slightly offside
Ryan Gravenberch continued his impressive form for Liverpool with another strong display
Ryan Gravenberch – 8
Making a case to be Liverpool’s player of the season so far. Another silky display in midfield and seems to find space to wriggle away from challenges when it looks impossible. Defended well, too.
Alexis Mac Allister – 7.5
One of the easiest goals of his life in terms of the finish to open the scoring, after Salah put the ball on a plate for him to leave him with barely anything to do. But it came after a lovely dart into the penalty area. Some silky passes as he dictated the midfield.
Mohamed Salah – 8.5 (MOTM)
Was Man if the Match even before his 75th-minute goal with a sumptuous assist for Mac Allister before that trademark, curling strike to confirm the three points. Poor left back Juan Miranda would have gone to bed having nightmares of Salah continuously spinning him inside out.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 7
Unlucky with a shot that went inches wide after 19 minutes after a nice give-and-go with Salah. Puts in a good shift in terms of running but some passes did not come off here.
Salah was man of the match even before his 75th-minute goal with a sumptuous assist for Mac Allister
A stunning curling strike made it two for Liverpool as Salah got in on the act at Anfield
Luis Diaz kept up his promising start to the season with some nice flicks and runs at defenders
Luis Diaz – 7
Kept up his promising start to the season with some nice flicks and runs at defenders. Did not have the service he would have liked.
Darwin Nunez – 5.5
A typical Nunez performance – always involved, some lovely touches and some sloppy ones. Unlucky to be slightly offside for his disallowed goal. On another night, he could have scored two or three – but poor finishing let him down again.
Substitutes:
Diogo Jota (for Nunez, 61) – 6
Cody Gakpo (for Diaz, 71) – 6
Kostas Tsimikas (for Robertson, 71) – 6
Conor Bradley (for Alexander-Arnold, 85)
Curtis Jones (for Szoboszlai, 85)
Caoimhin Kelleher, Vitek Jaros, Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo, Jarell Quansah, Trey Nyoni, Tyler Morton.
Arne Slot has maintained a strong start to his debut season in the Liverpool dugout
Manager
Arne Slot – 7
Another good night but knows tougher tests lie ahead. His team continuously got into good areas and could have had a few more goals if luck was on their side – or better finishing. Will be worried by a sloppy period in the first half, though.
BOLOGNA (4-1-4-1):
Skorupski 7; Posch 6, Beukema 6.5 (Casale 62, 5), Lucumi 5.5, Miranda 4.5; Freuler 5 (Fabbian 84); Orsolini 5, Moro 5, Urbanski 6 (Aebischer 62, 5), Ndoye 6.5 (Iling Junior 79) Dallinga 6 (Castro 79).
