Liverpool vs. Bologna

After making an important begin to their Champions League marketing campaign in Milan, Liverpool are again in motion on Wednesday and host one other Italian workforce, Bologna, at Anfield.

Champions League (2) | Anfield
October 2, 2024 | 8pm (BST)

Liverpool have a few harm points with which to deal, however Arne Slot nonetheless has a robust squad to select because the Reds play their second Champions League recreation of the season.

In a wierd quirk, this can even be their fourth consecutive European recreation in opposition to Italian opposition, having performed Atalanta twice, Milan and now Bologna.

1. Again beneath the lights

With the evenings rising darker and nights getting colder, there’ll fortunately nonetheless be at the very least one beacon of sunshine in L4 this Wednesday, because the Reds host a Champions League match for the primary time since February 2023.

This won’t be a classic European night time as Liverpool are agency favourites and nonetheless have six video games of the league part to play after the Bologna conflict.

Nonetheless, it is going to be nice nonetheless to listen to the Champions League anthem performed, again beneath the lights at Anfield.

Slot is wanting ahead to it, too, telling UEFA: “I understand how particular a house recreation at Feyenoord was, however the residence video games in Europe have been much more particular.

“So, as a result of individuals advised me it’s the identical right here at Liverpool, I anticipate so much once we play the primary recreation in opposition to [Bologna]. I’m positively wanting ahead to my first expertise of European nights, a European night.”

2. Staff information

The principle information is that Federico Chiesa is not going to be concerned as he missed coaching after coming in on Tuesday “with some issues.”

On the Italian, Slot added: “I’m not anticipating him to be out for a really lengthy time frame, however this recreation isn’t doable for him and we’ve to attend and see if he can managed to be within the workforce on Saturday.”

Slot’s replace on Diogo Jota was extra optimistic, although, after the Portuguese missed coaching.

“Diogo missed out on two classes after the sport in opposition to Wolves. He took a knock,” the coach defined.

“I’m anticipating him to be with us tomorrow, that he’s out there to play.”

Darwin Nunez and Andy Robertson each educated as ordinary however Harvey Elliott, Jayden Danns and James McConnell stay sidelined.

3. Beginning XI prediction

We’ve seen to this point that Slot isn’t an enormous fan of creating modifications, solely correctly doing so within the League Cup final week.

Having mentioned that, this might be alternative to play the likes of Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones who actually wouldn’t considerably weaken the workforce.

There may be even a robust argument that Gakpo ought to exchange Luis Diaz anyway, given the Colombian’s quiet recreation in opposition to Wolves on Saturday.

Beginning XI prediction: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo

4. Bologna’s choice issues

Having bought Riccardo Calafiori and Joshua Zirkzee in the summertime, Bologna aren’t fairly the power they have been final season that noticed them fifth in Serie A to sneak into the Champions League.

Supervisor Vincenzo Italiano is having to manage with out captain Lewis Ferguson, who has an ACL harm, in addition to fellow midfielders Oussama El Azzouzi and Tommaso Pobega.

This season, they’ve managed only one win in seven video games to this point, however did present promise on the weekend as, with 10 males, they nearly scraped a win over Atalanta earlier than the Europa League champions made it 1-1 in harm time.

The Italians’ greatest risk in opposition to Liverpool ought to be on the flanks, with each Dan Ndoye and Riccardo Orsolini very a lot able to beating their man.

5. Present Europe they “missed us!”

In his pre-match press convention, Slot referred to as upon the supporters and gamers to make Wednesday night time an event.

“What I anticipate from our gamers, they’ve missed out on Champions League for a 12 months so after they step out on the pitch tomorrow, I wish to see this,” he mentioned.

“I wish to really feel this that they really feel like, ‘Ah, we missed this for a season’.

“Now, a membership of this commonplace, we’ve to be prepared and I’m hoping and anticipating from our followers. They’ve missed out on Champions League for a season and I’m hoping that they really feel this want to point out to Europe once more, ‘Ah, you missed us due to this!’”

6. Alisson’s birthday landmark

Alisson is in line to make his fiftieth European look for the Reds and celebrates his thirty second birthday on the day of the sport!

That is the eighth successive season during which the Reds have confronted Italian opposition. Residence and away, they’ve confronted golf equipment from Italy 42 occasions, profitable 20 and shedding 18.

At Anfield, Liverpool have met Italian golf equipment 18 occasions, profitable 10, drawing one and shedding seven.

6. The opposite fixtures

Whereas our focus might be on occasions in Liverpool, there might be loads of different Champions League motion occurring throughout the continent on Wednesday night time.

Notably, Aston Villa host Bayern Munich in a re-run of the 1982 ultimate that Villa famously received 1-0 at Feyenoord’s floor, De Kuip, in Rotterdam.

Elsewhere, it’s value keeping track of RB Leipzig’s efficiency in opposition to Juventus, as Liverpool’s subsequent European match might be in opposition to them in Germany.

7. Mac Allister weighs in on workload situation

The problem of gamers being overworked throughout the 12 months has been within the highlight of late, with Rodri talking significantly strongly on the subject, and Alexis Mac Allister has turn into the newest participant requested for his opinion.

Earlier than the Bologna match, the Argentine mentioned: “I don’t assume there may be a lot so as to add.

“The one factor I can say is that all of us love enjoying soccer and sure, we’re drained, there may be loads of video games, however the one factor I might say or I wish to say is that we’d like extra communication between all of the events, between gamers managers and everybody.

“I feel that’s the one strategy to go ahead and that’s what the gamers ask.”

8. Who’s the referee?

There might be a Montenegrin officiating workforce at Anfield for this one, with Nikola Dabanovic taking cost within the center – this might be simply his second Champions League correct recreation as a referee.

His assistants might be Vladan Todorovic and Srdan Jovanovic, whereas Milos Boskovic takes on fourth-official duties.

The lead VAR is Tomasz Kwiatkowski from Poland.