A tactical analysis of Liverpool versus Bologna

After a stunning 3-1 win against AC Milan in the first game of the League phase, the Reds pushed forwards against Italian side Bologna today at Anfield.

Bologna are currently sat around the bottom of the Serie A in 13th, with one win, four draws, and a loss this season.

Slot has been stuck to his normal approach in terms of the lineup this evening, with our typical center back pairing of Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk and midfield pairing of Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch, who have both been phenomenal this season for the Reds.

Mac Allister opened up the scoring early with an 11th minute tap in goal that cam from a lovely pass from Mo Salah. Macca made an unmarked run from the edge of the box to tap home.

Midfield Tactics

Tactically, Mac Allister and Gravenberch are used as the gel that works between the defense and the attackers.

They tend to receive the ball in the midfield and look for quick one-two passes that allows them to continue to develop the attack. This is the general idea behind Slot's double-pivot mindset that sets him apart from other Premier League managers.

Gravenberch and Mac Allister were driving forces on Wednesday as they routinely bombed forward from deep in the midfield to keep Bologna under constant pressure.

Most of the attacking play for both teams build up through the wings, which provides good matchups for wingers to get one-on-one with opposing fullbacks. Salah was a menace down the right flank as he was given free reign to wreak havoc on hte visitors defense.

Liverpool are incredibly strong on the wing, and I believe this approach paired with a driven cross could provide many more goals for the Reds.

The second goal of the game came from an excellent curling shot from Mo Salah, which has been his textbook finish for many years.

When running inside from the wing, Salah tends to do a fake pass, one more touch, then a finesse into one of the corners from inside the 18 yard box. This type of play can help give attackers rebounds if his shot is deflected by the keeper, as Darwin Nunez thrives on those kinds of chances.

All things considered, the Reds played very well today and put in a solid performance that can be built on in the upcoming run in the Premier League and Champions League. In their next game, Liverpool will face off against Crystal Palace on October 5th at 7:30 AM EST.