Liverpool continues their Champions League journey on Wednesday night when Italian side Bologna make the trip to Anfield.
They are currently languishing in the middle of the table in Serie A so far in the early going in 2024/25, but they still pose a danger regardless. However, the Reds should be confident of getting a result, especailly if they are backed by a raucous home crowd.
There's no secret that Anfield morphs into an entity all its own during a Champions League night and Arne Slot will be hoping to see this firsthand come Wednesday.
A long history of Anfield successes
There is a reason players and managers alike both say they dread coming to Anfield for a European night as it is an experience that can overwhelm even the most experienced of professionals.
Famous victories have been secured over clubs such as; Barcelona, Manchester City, Chelsea, Olympiakos, Real Madrid and Inter Milan just to name a few of the giant clubs to have been slayed on a Champions League night at Anfield.
This season, we will see the likes of Bologna, Real Madrid, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen make the trek to the northwest for a meeting with Slot's side.
There is not much that can match the epic comeback against Barcelona but there is a long history of Liverpool rising to the occasion in front the home faithful and that has become the reality even above an expectation.
It has not mattered who is lining up for the Reds on the night as they have seemingly just found ways to get it done and moments of magic from Steven Gerrard, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Divock Origi or Fernando Torres , etc. have become common to expect.
This version of Liverpool is more than capable
Slot has his charges playing some of the best football on the continent at the moment and it would not surprise anyone to see them put 2-3 goals in the net against Bologna.
Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota are all in infectious form right now and they should be confident of making huge impacts across the board when the ball gets kicked off.
Anfield could very easily become a miserable lockdown fortress for any visitor if Slot and this team can keep firing on all cylinders.
There will be more daunting foes to come at Anfield during the course of this Champions League season, however, that just means there should be more emphasis put on this match to make sure an important three points are secured.
Every single night match at Anfield is a special occasion, but when you hear that special UCL anthem in tandem with a rousing version of "You'll Never Walk Alone", it's guaranteed to send chills up and down your arms.
There is only one Anfield and its aura is amplified tenfold on a European night. Liverpool will be looking to maintain this rich tradition starting with Bologna.