Overview
Except for the unexpected 0-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest in round 4 of the Premier League, Liverpool are still having an impressive start under new coach Arne Slot.
The Reds have won all seven of their remaining games in all competitions, scoring 20 goals and conceding just three. Liverpool will clearly want to continue this form heading into October's FIFA Days.
Having to face only Bologna will be an opportunity for Slot's team to extend their winning streak. The Serie A representative lost coach Thiago Motta to Juventus after last season. Pillars such as Joshua Zirkzee and Riccardo Calafiori also left, making it impossible for Bologna to maintain their strength.
Since the start of the season, Bologna have only had 1 victory, defeating weak opponents Monza. In the last 5 matches, they have an unbeaten record, but that includes 4 lackluster draws, even when facing weaker teams such as Empoli or Como. In the opening day of the Champions League, Bologna were also held to a 0-0 draw by Shakhtar Donetsk.
Therefore, getting points at Anfield is a very difficult task for Bologna at the moment. Experts even predict that the Italian team will lose heavily to a rising Liverpool.
This will be the first time Liverpool and Bologna have faced each other in a competitive match, which is no surprise given that this is the first time the visitors have played in Europe's top competition in 60 years.
Liverpool have faced Italian teams 35 times in the history of the European Cup. The "Reds" have a relatively balanced record in these matches with 14 wins, 15 losses and 6 draws.
Human resources situation
Andy Robertson is a doubt for this game, while Darwin Nunez will return to the squad after missing the Wolves game through illness.
On the other side of the front line, Bologna will be without Lewis Ferguson, Tommaso Pobega and Oussama El Azzouzi. Meanwhile, Santiago Castro is uncertain about his ability to play.
Expected lineup:
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Konate, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Salah, Gakpo, Diaz.
Bologna: Skorupski, Posch, Lucumi, Beukema, Lykogiannis, Aebischer, Moro, Freuler, Orsolini, Dallinga, Ndoye.
The match between Liverpool and Bologna takes place at 2:00 a.m. on October 3 (Vietnam time).
