Neil Atkinson’s post-match review for The Anfield Wrap after Liverpool 2 Bologna 0 in the 2024-2025 Champions League group stage…
NO one quite knows what the job is yet. But everyone knows it requires beating Bologna.
Elsewhere, I think there is some goal difference padding and this makes sense. Suddenly, 15 points feels like it might need some odds lashing in there. Fifteen-plus.
Descending on Anfield, it was fair to wonder if Liverpool may see tonight as an opportunity for precisely that. But the truth is that Bologna took a bit of beating for a side whose next tough game kicks off around 64 hours after this one finishes.
In the fullness of time, it is going to be interesting to see what the Premier League sides find both hard and easy in this competition. Does it help having so many difficult games? Are you more battle-hardened? It seemed that way last night as Arsenal eased PSG out of the way. Or do you need to be able to compete neatly on both fronts?
All of this to the backdrop of not knowing the minimum requirement. Then you come out of the ground to see that Aston Villa, Benfica and Lille have beaten Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid respectively.
That only seven sides have six points, that 18 points – for Liverpool four more wins from six games – will definitely be enough, and then you realise that all this was both fine and dandy without ever really engaging the dander.
Liverpool were better than Bologna without ever being truly better than them for 20 minutes straight. Our opponents, who were a smart bunch last season, show they remain precisely that.
They – and their supporters – were a credit to themselves, posing questions Liverpool don’t look like answering, but questions Liverpool sort of don’t need to answer from Bologna, because they have better players.
Both sides end the game where one could argue each’s goalkeeper was the best performer. This doesn’t entirely make logical sense but it is true. Both deal with what comes their way brilliantly. Both react and anticipate to situations well and both pass the ball impeccably. They get their teams on the front foot.
Elsewhere, Virgil van Dijk gets Ryan Gravenberch on the front foot. There is an old Cesc Fabregas quote about passing with information on it. Van Dijk does this again and again, but it is easy to offer the information and another thing to show brilliance and right now that is what Ryan Gravenberch does.
He is irresistible. He plays deepest-lying midfielder like a dream, but can also be valuably and usefully moved. He turns away and surges with the same gusto as he wins it back. This is a player suddenly both in his pomp and aware he has far, far more pomp to come.
This season, he has been a pleasure to see become the best version of himself and there is a load more around the corner.
Mo Salah is constant and scores the goal he rarely does these days. Yet again, European football suits him. It’s a goal and an assist, and both are sumptuous. His thing is this – he has never seen a door he won’t constantly knock at. That means when it doesn’t happen it doesn’t seem entirely right. He picks his moments, but in doing so picks every last one.
Elsewhere but related, Dominik Szoboszlai remains the oddest number 10 you have ever seen – so maybe shake up the snowglobe, twist the kaleidoscope and look again, look past the handsomeness. Perhaps he is a John Wark/David Platt/Frank Lampard and not a Juan Roman Riquelme type. If he is the former then the ball needs to hit the back of the net more often.
That said, the work out of possession and in general progression couldn’t be any better. Couldn’t be more unstinting. He wants Liverpool to win more than you do and that is as good a jumping off point as any.
The referee was atrocious and Liverpool play again in a few moments – blink and you’ll miss them. They will warm down, sleep, recover, plan, sleep, travel, sleep and play. The challenge is the same as Nottingham Forest into AC Milan, but flipped between the domestic and the European. Last time, they did part two better than part one and we will need the same again.
Nobody said it was easy, but everybody knows it is the job. Get out of the week with win, win and, yes, win and then we get to all say everyone has been marvellous. This is the crux of the first half of English seasons. You get out intact and everyone has been marvellous.
The scoreboard remains a mystery. The challenge remains obvious. Just keep winning and count the points and the moments later.
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