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Liverpool1 - 0Bologna

sportsmole.co.uk, 2 October 2024, 17:49
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has made just one change to his starting lineup for Wednesday's Champions League clash with Bologna at Anfield.

The Reds are out to make it two for two in Europe's premier competition following a 3-1 success over AC Milan two weeks ago, and Slot's side come into the encounter on the back of a 2-1 Premier League win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Ten of the 11 starters from that narrow success at Molineux hold their places, but Diogo Jota drops down to the bench following a foot injury, allowing Darwin Nunez to lead the line at Anfield.

The Uruguay international was missing from the win over Wolves due to illness, but he trained on Tuesday after making a full recovery and will make his first Champions League start of the season tonight.

Despite Cody Gakpo's assist off the bench for Dominik Szoboszlai in Milan, as well as his brace in the EFL Cup win over West Ham United, Luis Diaz retains his place on the left, as Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah complete the attack.

The latter will become the first Liverpool player in history to score in five successive Champions League home games should he find the back of the net against Bologna, whom he scored five times against during his time at Roma.

Andy Robertson passed fit as key Bologna man benched

The Liverpool midfield and defence is unchanged from the victory over Wolves, where Andy Robertson sustained a knock, but the Scotland international has recovered in time to start over Kostas Tsimikas, who was given the nod against Milan.

As expected, Federico Chiesa has not been named in the matchday squad due to a fresh injury blow, so 17-year-old Trey Nyoni - who made his senior Reds debut in last year's FA Cup - is among the substitutes.

Meanwhile, Bologna manager Vincenzo Italiano has also made a change up front for Wednesday's game, as Thijs Dallinga - a summer arrival from Toulouse - is given the nod in the central striker's role over Santiago Castro.

Castro was forced off in the weekend's Serie A draw with Atalanta BC, and despite doing everything in his power to be fit for the trip to Liverpool, he will have to settle for a substitute cameo at best.

Dallinga is one of four changes from the visiting head coach, who has also brought in ex-Barcelona starlet Juan Miranda at full-back, while Nikola Moro and Kacper Urbanski replace Michel Aebischer and Giovanni Fabbian in midfield respectively.

One-time Nottingham Forest midfielder Remo Freuler captains the visitors, who also include Aston Villa-owned attacker Samuel Iling-Junior on the bench.

Liverpool starting lineup: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez

Subs: Jaros, Kelleher, Gomez, Endo, Jones, Gakpo, Jota, Tsimikas, Quansah, Morton, Bradley, Nyoni

Bologna starting lineup: Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Moro, Freuler, Urbanski; Orsolini, Dallinga, Ndoye

Subs: Bagnolini, Ravaglia, Holm, Erlic, Castro, Iling-Junior, Casale, Corazza, Aebischer, Odgaard, Lykogiannis, Fabbian

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