Final result: Liverpool-Bologna 2-0
LIVERPOOL
Alisson 7 – First he sends Ndoye’s volley to the post, then he blocks Urbanski’s shot from outside and finally comes out with timing on Dallinga. In short, he shuts down Bologna at their best moment.
Alexander-Arnold 6.5 – Constant push to the right where Liverpool do a lot of damage. Miranda suffers it, coupled with Salah, also because Ndoye and Freuler only help their teammate at times.
From 85′ Bradley sv
Van Dijk 6.5 – by hook or by crook, the Dutchman is the usual blocker even if he concedes something, leaving Liverpool some space behind the defenders which the rossoblu pounce on in the first half. In the second half he doesn’t concede anything at all.
Konate 6 – He keeps good guard with Van Dijk, even if tonight the Reds concede something especially in the squares, where he also leaves something.
Robertson 6 – He doesn’t push as usual, Orsolini tickles him at times, but it cannot be said that he is ever really in difficulty even though he loses a few one-on-ones. He gets to the bottom a few times, although he mostly lets Alexander-Arnold do the climbing.
From the 72nd minute Tsimikas 6 – Since his entrance the pace has decidedly slowed down, but he gives the right support to Gakpo, containing Orsolini. He gets a dubious yellow.
Mac Allister 7 – Liverpool play one-two touches and he is very good at immediately verticalizing when he has to and making an extra turn in other situations. The goal is a kind gift from Salah, but he is very good at inserting it with perfect timing.
Gravenberg 6.5 – Ready-go and spread panic in the Bologna area. Liverpool’s volume of play is important at times and he plays it off wonderfully with his teammate, combining running and quality.
Szoboszlai 6.5 – Class in the plays that he offers at times and that makes them all seem easy, but which he perhaps carries out with 20 meter passes or wide openings. Fine feet and concreteness at the highest levels.
From 85′ Jones SV
Salah 8 – What a hammer. He is always there to aim, dribble, cross, invite his teammates to shoot. And to shoot. Continuous stress for Bologna. That is until he decides to paint the picture of 2-0: how beautiful.
Nunez 5.5 – He makes passes and pushes, he is always ready to strike, but Beukema holds his own and obscures him or puts him offside. He remembers a high header tonight: not much. Caged despite the large spaces.
From 61′ Diogo Jota 6.5 – He enters and is immediately at the center of every Liverpool action. It finishes and makes the bank. Excellent entrance.
Luis Diaz 6 – Liverpool attacked mainly from the right in the first half. If we had to look at shots and one-on-one wins, perhaps it wouldn’t be fully sufficient, but the truth is that Posch is sweating like hell and as the minutes go by he is more and more involved in the Reds’ actions. Then we know the feet and the imagination and can still be seen today.
From the 72nd minute Gakpo 6 – Some good initiatives on the left, he must not overdo it also because shortly after his entry Salah takes care of putting the game on ice for the Reds, who then slow down the frenetic pace.
Arne Slot 7 – Liverpool going at 200mph, as always. He concedes something to a courageous Bologna, but everything seems to have been taken into account. Second half without discussions, deserved victory.
BOLOGNA
Skorupski 6.5 – Impeccable in foot play, as well as in exits. The two goals are a close tap-in and an uncatchable left-footed shot into the top corner: what do we want to tell him?
Posch 5 – More than one blue pencil mistake. He struggles to read his opponents’ intentions and gives away a few too many balls when under pressure.
Beukema 6 – At least two providential closures in the penalty area. Of course, he doesn’t have an easy life against Liverpool’s very fast attackers, especially on the counter, but he deserves a pass. From 62′ Casale 6 – Also due to greater freshness, he holds up in duels and also with his position.
Lucumì 6 – He does practically nothing wrong. Perfect ball and chain, sometimes even with the thrill, risking the construction very low.
Miranda 5.5 – Well, playing on Salah’s flank… Who could we wish it on? It was clear to everyone on the eve of the evening that his evening would be difficult. All confirmed: the Egyptian’s goal is mocked by a fake.
Moro 5.5 – Not the greatest precision, also due to the type of game that pushes you to always be on edge. Favorite
Freuler 6.5 – Heart, soul, point of reference of Bologna. In one word? Captain. He plays a generous, all-court game, running for three. From 84′ Fabbian sv
Urbanski 5 – Running after Mac Allister and the other Reds midfielders is not easy, in fact it gets confusing. At 1-0 he is the one who forgets to follow the opponent. At game time Italiano, seeing him in difficulty, excludes him from the match. From 62′ Aebischer 6 – He fights in the middle of the pitch and does well in both phases.
Orsolini 5.5 – His dribbling, which is often his strong point, is stuck tonight: he never skips the man. Even in the finalization it is not convincing.
Dallinga 6 – On the attacking front he varies a lot, especially in the first half, looking for space to do damage. He even manages to do so, with a nice touch underneath to beat Alisson, but he is offside. In the second half he no longer has any. From 79′ Castro sv
Ndoye 6.5 – He certainly won’t win the MVP award, but he will certainly win the unluckiest player of the evening: hitting the woodwork at Anfield, after all, doesn’t happen every day. With Freuler he is the best of his team, but it is not enough for Bologna. From 80′ Iling-Junior sv
Vincenzo Italiano 6 – If at the end of the match the away section of Anfield applauds so loudly it will be because they were satisfied. On the other hand, Bologna goes to Liverpool to play it very openly, without giving up their playing principles and also putting one of the strongest teams in Europe in difficulty. We could also blame it a little on bad luck, in light of the two woodwork hit. Tonight the defeat certainly does not come due to his own demerits, but due to the strength of his opponent.