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 group, Bologna, at Anfield.
Liverpool vs. Bologna
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 powerful squad to choose because the Reds play their second Champions League sport of the season.
In an odd quirk, this can even be their fourth consecutive European sport towards 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 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 may not be a classic European evening as Liverpool are agency favourites and nonetheless have six video games of the league section to play after the Bologna conflict.
Nevertheless, will probably 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 sport at Feyenoord was, however the house video games in Europe have been much more particular.
“So, as a result of individuals instructed me it’s the identical right here at Liverpool, I count on so much once we play the primary sport towards [Bologna]. I’m undoubtedly wanting ahead to my first expertise of European nights, a European night.”
2. Workforce 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 sport will not be potential for him and we’ve got to attend and see if he can managed to be within the group 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 towards Wolves. He took a knock,” the coach defined.
“I’m anticipating him to be with us tomorrow, that he’s obtainable to play.”
Darwin Nunez and Andy Robertson each educated as standard however Harvey Elliott, Jayden Danns and James McConnell stay sidelined.
3. Beginning XI prediction
We’ve seen to date that Slot isn’t a giant fan of constructing adjustments, solely correctly doing so within the League Cup final week.
Having mentioned that, this might be a very good alternative to play the likes of Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones who definitely wouldn’t considerably weaken the group.
There’s even a powerful argument that Gakpo ought to substitute Luis Diaz anyway, given the Colombian’s quiet sport towards 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 drive 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 date, however did present promise on the weekend as, with 10 males, they virtually scraped a win over Atalanta earlier than the Europa League champions made it 1-1 in harm time.
The Italians’ largest menace towards Liverpool needs 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 known as upon the supporters and gamers to make Wednesday evening an event.
“What I count on 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 got 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 need to indicate 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 wherein the Reds have confronted Italian opposition. Residence and away, they’ve confronted golf equipment from Italy 42 occasions, successful 20 and shedding 18.
At Anfield, Liverpool have met Italian golf equipment 18 occasions, successful 10, drawing one and shedding seven.
6. The opposite fixtures
Whereas our focus will probably be on occasions in Liverpool, there will probably be loads of different Champions League motion taking place throughout the continent on Wednesday evening.
Notably, Aston Villa host Bayern Munich in a re-run of the 1982 remaining that Villa famously gained 1-0 at Feyenoord’s floor, De Kuip, in Rotterdam.
Elsewhere, it’s value maintaining a tally of RB Leipzig’s efficiency towards Juventus, as Liverpool’s subsequent European match will probably be towards them in Germany.
7. Mac Allister weighs in on workload concern
The difficulty 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 change into the newest participant requested for his opinion.
Earlier than the Bologna match, the Argentine mentioned: “I don’t assume there’s a lot so as to add.
“The one factor I can say is that all of us love taking part in soccer and sure, we’re drained, there’s numerous video games, however the one factor I may say or I wish to say is that we want extra communication between all of the events, between gamers managers and everybody.
“I believe that’s the one method to go ahead and that’s what the gamers ask.”
8. Who’s the referee?
There will probably be a Montenegrin officiating group at Anfield for this one, with Nikola Dabanovic taking cost within the center – this will probably be simply his second Champions League correct sport as a referee.
His assistants will probably be Vladan Todorovic and Srdan Jovanovic, whereas Milos Boskovic takes on fourth-official duties.
The lead VAR is Tomasz Kwiatkowski from Poland.
9. Observe the match with TIA
Liverpool vs. Bologna is reside on TNT Sports activities 2 with kickoff at 8pm (BST).
TIA’s matchday reside weblog will probably be up and operating from 7.15pm, with Harry McMullen tasked with conserving you entertained and up-to-date.
Come on you Reds!
