Arne Slot takes charge of his first home Champions League match as Reds manager, taking on another Italian side having come from behind to beat AC Milan at San Siro last time out. This should be an easier affair, especially in front of their own fans and against a Bologna team really struggling for form this season.
Also under a new head coach this season, after Thiago Motta jumped ship for Juventus, Bologna have just one win in seven games across all competitions but have not tasted defeat in five games – four of them draws. They will need to be at their defensive best to keep out a Reds side on a four-game winning streak, which has seen them top the Premier League standings.
Mohamed Salah is gunning to make Liverpool history tonight by becoming the first Reds player to score in five home Champions League games on the spin, and you would not expect him to hit the back of the net in a fairly routine European victory under the Anfield lights.
Liverpool vs Bologna latest updates
Kick-off: 8pm BST, Anfield
How to watch: TNT Sports and Discovery+
Liverpool XI: Nunez replaced benched Jota
Bologna XI: Four changes from visitors
Score prediction: Reds make it two from two
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
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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.
