Liverpool vs Bologna Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
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Arne Slot is set to take charge of his first Champions League fixture at Anfield as Liverpool head coach, with Italian side Bologna the Reds’ opponents.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Wednesday October 2nd 2024: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports 2 / US – CBS Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+
LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS: CHIESA RULED OUT BUT JOTA PASSED FIT
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Gakpo
UNAVAILABLE: Chiesa (Injured), Elliott (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Robertson (Injured), Nunez (Injured)
BOLOGNA TEAM NEWS: CAPTAIN FERGUSON ONLY CONFIRMED ABSENTEE
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Skorupski; Holm, Beukema, Lucumi, Lykogiannis; Aebischer, Freuler, Fabbian; Orsolini, Castro, Ndoye
UNAVAILABLE: Ferguson (Injured),
QUESTIONABLE: Pobega (Injured)
KEY STATS
- Liverpool have won 12 of their last 13 UEFA Champions League group/league phase matches (L1).
- Liverpool have lost only one of their last 19 UEFA Champions League group/league phase matches at home (W15 D3).
- Liverpool have kept four clean sheets in their last five UEFA Champions League group/league phase matches at home.
- Liverpool have won six of their last nine UEFA competition matches against Italian teams (L3).
- Liverpool have lost three of their last five UEFA competition matches at home against Italian teams (W2).
- Bologna have lost only one of their last seven UEFA competition matches (W3 D3).
- Bologna have won only two of their last nine UEFA competition matches away from home (D2 L5).
- Bologna have lost only two of their last 12 matches away from home in all competitions (W6 D4).
LIVERPOOL VS BOLOGNA PREDICTION
Matches like this really does underline just how far Bologna have progressed as a club in the space of a year following their fairy-tale campaign in 2023-24. It will be a wonderful occasion for the Bologna supporters, who will believe their team can get something here. But bar a surprise defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest, Liverpool have been flawless under Slot so far, winning eight games from nine in all competitions.
Not only do Liverpool pose a huge goal threat in open play through the likes of Mo Salah and Luis Diaz to name just two, they are also massively dangerous from set-pieces with defenders Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate both scoring with headers from set-plays. Back Liverpool at home to comfortably emerge victorious here by at least two clear goals.
LIVERPOOL VS BOLOGNA TIP: LIVERPOOL TO WIN WITH -1 HANDICAP
