Liverpool v Bologna
Apologies as once again I was only able to watch the game once, in a crowded bar, sat next to a group of Italians raucously cheering on Bologna. Though it did get much easier to focus after Salah added the second, as the Italians became subdued for the rest of the match.
What should have been a comfortable and routine victory, was made into an uncomfortable and difficult win by Liverpool themselves and their insistence on trying to play out from the back at a snail’s pace. It made for an extremely frustrating watch. I know I will be told that we were playing it slowly to try to draw players in, but they were not being drawn in, so all it achieved was to give them plenty of time to close up the press. They were happy to keep on their man and wait for someone in red to make a mistake, which happened with an alarming amount of regularity. At least if the ball had been moved quickly, it would have made it a struggle for them to set their press. Instead it was usually rolled back to Alisson, who was then strolling about looking for an option, any option to pass to. It did improve a little after half-time, thankfully.
When the pace was increased and the ball played forward, instead of sideways and backwards, Liverpool were able to cut through Bologna fairly easily and created chances to shoot. It just was not happening enough and instead the game was lacking in real quality for large portions.
Bologna are not the same team they were last season under Thiago Motta. The attacking play lacks the quality it showed under the exciting leadership of Motta. Italiano has kept the same defensive set up, but going forward they lack the patterns of play that brought the success last season. They had little threat to offer, their chances coming from Liverpool’s poor play and they lack the quality of player to really compete at this level. Such a shame that they were unable to hold on to Thiago Motta, as it would have been interesting to see how he could have got on with this team, which were so entertaining to watch under him. Without him, they look a little out of their depth at Champions League level.
Quick notes on the players:
Alisson – was called upon far too often to bail out Liverpool, usually after their slow paced passing got them into trouble. Often he was the worst offender for dallying on the ball, though he had an excuse as every player was man marked and unavailable to receive a pass. The movement in front was poor, but he was taking too long to play a ball out, allowing pressure to be put on him. However, his saves kept the clean sheet intact.
Alexander-Arnold – not his best night, he was part of the general malaise at the back, but he is always a threat when he gets the ball. The problem was that he gave the ball away too easily on occasions in dangerous areas. The winger opposing him lacked real quality, which helped a lot.
Konate – defended well, but he was a part of the defence that played the ball round too slowly. On the ball, he needed to look forward more quickly, instead of just rolling it across to Alisson most of the time.
van Dijk – failed to make use of his passing range enough, when his big diagonal pass would have been useful to open up the play and push the Bologna defence back. Instead he was mostly happy to also just roll the ball across the backline.
Robertson – looked a bit lost. Got forward occasionally, but did not link up as well as he often does with Diaz. Looked a bit leggy and I was not surprised he was taken off to be honest.
Gravenberch – drove forward at every opportunity and was once more Liverpool’s man of the match. He did lose the ball a few times, but he lost it trying to make things happen, rather than because he was aimlessly rolling the ball about.
Mac Allister – a much better performance from the Argentine, his best of the season so far. He did play a little deeper than he has been, in the main, which contributed to his better play. He was still able to get forward and score.
Szoboszlai – also much improved from his previous performances this season. It finally looked like a midfield that was developing an understanding.
Diaz – caused them no end of trouble but just lacked that end product, similar to the way he was playing last season. He was just teetering on the edge of really taking them apart, without ever quite doing it.
Nunez – the team looks so much better with him in it, his link up with those around him and his runs to drag opponents around, help so much with the overall play. It is still a work in progress, but there are good signs there.
Salah – an assist and a goal but there was so much more in the game for him. He messed up a couple of simple balls across on counters, but it does seem churlish to complain when he has provided the assist for the first goal and then scored a beauty for the second!
Jota – came on for Nunez in the 61st minute. He tried hard but he was mostly receiving passes that were aerial balls to battle for, which is not his strength. Standing leaps against a much bigger man are never going to end in his favour, though he is good in the air, his skill is in timing a running leap to take him above the defenders.
Tsimikas – replaced Robertson in the 71st minute. The problem with only getting to watch a match once, and that in a busy pub, means that sometimes you just fail to notice things. I have to be honest, even after hours trying to run it back through my head, I simply cannot remember what Tsimikas did or what impact, if any he had either positively or negatively.
Gakpo – took Diaz’s place in the 71st minute. What makes me feel worse about not remembering Tsimikas in this match, is that I can remember Gakpo looking dangerous and causing Bologna problems, when he came on at the exact same time as the Greek.
Bradley – was brought on in the stead of Alexander-Arnold in the 85th minute. Had little time to impact the game.
Jones – subbed on for Szoboszlai, also in the 85th minute. Never really had time to have an effect.
Written by Tris Burke October 05 2024 03:18:29
