Liverpool

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Liverpool boss Arne Slot, speaking to TNT Sports: "It wasn't an easy one, in my opinion Bologna made it difficult.

"Similar to Atalanta - man-mark all over the pitch. Wait for the right moment if you play through, completely open - it was many times. The last pass could have been better."

On his time at the club so far: "Not only the players, also the staff I inherited, who were here before, it was positive from the start, the players as well. Keeping many things the same, they were very happy with former regimes. The good thing is that they bought into it."

On what he was delighted with this evening: “Not many things delighted with, apart from both goals, especially the second one. Great ball from Virgil [Van Dijk], great attack, great run from Trent Alexander-Arnold. It is always difficult to play a team that takes that much risk.

"Overall a good result but I wouldn't use the world delighted myself today."

On Ryan Gravenberch: "I was delighted with him. I don’t say that to players at half-time because there is still 45 minutes to go but I said after the game ‘again big performance’.

"Ryan was again outstanding today."

On the change in momentum in the first half: "I don't think it was concentration, it started off with free-kick they got, a few times conceded set pieces, a team gets momentum. You could see they have a very good game plan.

"If we play against a team comfortable in ball possession, sometimes you have to work hard, suffer, what I was delighted with was how they throw themselves in front of the ball, do everything to try and keep a clean sheet."

On his record, winning eight out of his first nine games as Liverpool boss: "It's hardly impossible to do something special at this club.

"It says a lot about how we started how players bought into it, the effort put in, the staff helped me. Even more difficult fixtures coming up starting on Saturday when we play a 12:30 kick-off after a Wednesday evening Champions League game. It's nice to start this way, that’s clear."

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Goalkeeper Alisson Becker, speaking to TNT Sports on his birthday: "That's what I asked for from the boys when I had my speech. A fantastic game and a really tough opponent. They are aggressive, a strong team.

“We did good to manage their game and to score enough to win the game and defend well to keep the clean sheet."

On Mo Salah: "He's a player that helps us a lot, sometimes it looks like he’s not in the game but suddenly a perfect touch, he puts the ball in the top corner. That’s his quality, his strength as well.

"We are lucky to have him but we always have to highlight the hard work the team had and a lot to improve but good enough to win the game.”

Goalscorer Alexis Mac Allister, speaking to TNT Sports: “I’m really happy personally but for the team. He [Alisson] made some good saves. Sometimes I think we need to defend better, at least Ali showed how good he is. I’m happy for him and for the team.”

On his goal: “Yeah to be fair it is quite hard [to miss] you could. A goal is a goal, in this team when we make a run Mo [Salah] can see everything. Really happy for him, I think it was a good night for everyone.

On still transitioning to life under Arne Slot: “It is clear we are in transition, we are happy with the ideas, we are trying to get there. There is room for improvement, that's why we work very hard every day."

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Mohamed Salah has both scored and assisted in nine different Champions League matches – the most of any player for an English side, while no African player has done so on more occasions in the competition (Samuel Eto'o, also nine).

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Arne Slot’s first home Champions League match as Liverpool boss ended in victory as goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah helped the Reds defeat battling Italian side Bologna at Anfield.

Follow reaction and read the match report

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There are nine Champions League fixtures on Wednesday:

• Girona v Feyenoord - 17:45

• Shakhtar Donetsk v Atalanta - 17:45

• Aston Villa v Bayern Munich - 20:00 (listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live)

• Benfica v Atletico Madrid - 20:00

• Dinamo Zagreb v Monaco - 20:00

• Lille v Real Madrid - 20:00

• Liverpool v Bologna - 20:00

• RB Leipzig v Juventus - 20:00

• Sturm Graz v Club Bruges - 20:00

All kick-off times BST

Follow all of the action and reaction

Ian Kennedy
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

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It is a measure of how well Arne Slot has settled in at Anfield that if the Reds beat Bologna tonight, he will be the first Liverpool manager in history to win eight of his first nine matches in charge.

Saturday’s win at Wolves showed they can win when not quite at their very best, an important quality amid such a hectic fixture schedule.

An early kick-off at Crystal Palace on Saturday might be another tough test, but Liverpool will go into the game top of the table and with another away win on their minds. They have so far won every away game they have played this season.

But first things first, and Slot will want his side to carry on where they left off against AC Milan. Bologna are mid-table in Italy after such a good campaign last season, and no longer have Joshua Zirkzee after his move to Manchester United.

That one blip, the home defeat to Nottingham Forest, will serve as a reminder that nothing can be taken for granted. The response to that defeat has been excellent, and a victory against Bologna will help keep the momentum moving in the right direction going into the weekend.

Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Liverpool match commentaries on BBC Radio Merseyside

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Liverpool are ready to rival Manchester United for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite and could even move for the 22-year-old Englishman in January. (Mail), external

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Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been chatting to the media about his side maintaining focus at key moments.

The Reds face Bologna in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Slot's side faced late pressure in their win at Wolves on Saturday and the manager has been explaining how the situation frustrated him.

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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot hopes his side put in strong performance against Bologna in the Champions League on Wednesday to create "a special night" at Anfield.

On what will be his first European home game in charge of the Reds, Slot said: "I was privileged to work at Feyenoord last season where Champions League nights were special. People tell me it is going to be more special here.

"What I want from the players is them to show they missed this. I want to see this, I want to feel this.

"I am hoping it's the same from our fans. I hope they feel this desire to show Europe that you missed us.

"That combination should lead to hopefully a special night for everyone involved with Liverpool."

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Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister says it is too early in the season to say they are pushing for the Premier League title but they "will try to win every game" to be in contention for a trophy.

"We have an amazing team and a good coach," said the Argentina international. "When you play for Liverpool you have to be up there. We know it's quite early and [there is] a lot of time to see if we are in the title race.

"I could say a lot of things but we have to show it. We will try to do out best to win every game. We will see by January or February if we will be in the competition to win a trophy."

On Luis Diaz, who has scored five goals in six games this term, Mac Allister added: "He knows how important the numbers are for strikers and wingers. I am happy he is getting goals and assists.

"He has been amazing for us but I think he can still improve. Hopefully he can continue to show effective he is. Consistency is key."

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Champions League game against Bologna (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• He expects Diogo Jota to be available, despite missing two training sessions, but Federico Chiesa will miss out because of injury.

• On Chiesa: "It's a pity for him. I am not expecting him to be out for a very long period of time. We will see if he can be in the team for Saturday."

• He said having "a lot of quality players who show up when needed" helps him to find the solution to players being injured.

• On being top of the Premier League table: "I see things we have to improve if we want to stay where we are. Every fixture is difficult in the Premier League and we have to do things better. But one of the reasons we can stay up there is we have a lot of quality."

• He said "we cannot accept mediocrity" and that is why he criticised the final minutes of play against Wolves because they need to show "the highest standards every day".

• On opponents Bologna: "We know how difficult it is to play against a team that man mark. We don't underestimate them at all because that is not what they deserve after their finish last season."

• He hopes the players and fans "will show Europe that you've missed us" at Anfield on Wednesday and "that combination should hopefully lead to a special night for everyone involved".

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We asked for your views on Dominik Szoboszlai's performances so far this season as number 10 for Liverpool, and whether Arne Slot should keep the Hungarian in that role or find another solution.

Here are some of your comments:

Luke: Szoboszlai does need to up his numbers. His work-rate is fantastic and he has the ability but his decision making is where he is lacking. For £60m I would be expecting more than one goal and one assist so far this season, especially when he is in a more advanced position than last. Tough decision ahead for Slot.

Ilias: Totally agree. I would see Chiesa go into the number 10 position or in a 4-4-2 formation at the top.

Matthew: Szoboszlai, at the moment, needs to be dropped. He is wasteful and a hindrance to the team currently. The return of Harvey Elliott cannot come quickly enough. Slot needs to be more ruthless with him as being inconsistent can only go on for so long. As a Liverpool fan, it's so frustrating watching him at the moment. He is miles off it.

Kenny: Dominik is so frustrating to watch. He has so much talent, the physique and the speed, yet he comes across as lackadaisical at times. His passing and finishing have been mediocre at best - and whether it is confidence or something else, he really needs to address it soon or he should no longer be considered an automatic starter.

Evance: Why not play Mac Allister as number 10 and pair Szoboszlai with Gravenberch? It is that simple. Mac Allister is also more creative as a 10 than him.

Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

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Liverpool are top of the Premier League. Ryan Gravenberch has been an absolute revelation - the best midfielder in the country this season.

So it feels odd to write anything negative, but Liverpool have a slight issue at number 10 right now.

Dominik Szoboszlai is in strange form. He works so hard off the ball for a player in an attacking position. His pressing from the front is elite - it is Roberto Firmino-esque. In possession, though, he has been creatively wasteful for a good few weeks now.

The Hungarian has been consistently making bad decisions - either passing too soon, to the wrong player, or keeping the ball when it needed to be moved sharply.

Head coach Arne Slot hinted in an interview that he needs to do more in terms of goals and assists, so it has not gone unnoticed.

When subbed off against Wolves on Saturday, Szoboszlai shook his head - but he had no right to be upset given he missed a sitter in the first half and failed to inject quality into our attack.

Harvey Elliott is still injured, so Slot cannot even give him a rest, although Curtis Jones is an option at number 10 as well.

Szoboszlai should not be written off, of course. He is only 23 years old and probably needs more confidence and composure to start making more things happen.

He is very good off the ball, so I would argue he might end up being an option in the double pivot, with Elliott or a new number 10 eventually starting as the more advanced midfielder.

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Do you agree with Jordan about Szoboszlai's form? Does Slot need to think about a change in the number 10 position and, if so, what is the solution?

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Real Madrid are open to offers for 24-year-old France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, with Liverpool the club most interested in sealing a £66m deal next summer. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Wolves and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Wolves fans

Mark: We have one idea, play across the back and hope to make space, even when there's four minutes to play! Excuse has been the fixtures, so let's see against Brentford, lose that and Gary needs to go! Our club get what they ask for, selling our most attacking player and our regular centre-back and captain. Maybe Fosun's luck has run out - two summers of selling our best!

Bryce: Baffling selection and baffling subs again from the manager. Bellegarde did nothing and Forbs looked up for it, but the manager took off our target man Larsen and Hwang was non existent. Semedo again in a defensive shocker for their winner. Changes needed at the top or we are done by Xmas.

Allan: I did say that we wouldn’t win any of the first six games and it proved to be true. We now have to take the positives out of the performance which was good. We now have a few games coming up where we maybe can get results and pick up a few points.

Ed: O'Neil out-coached again. Those substitutions were criminal, wasted all of our opportunities to change the game. Lack of direction, no depth in defence and a coach looking more clueless by the game. We could be adrift before the fixtures 'ease.' Newsflash. it's the Premier League. It's never easy.

Liverpool fans

Robel: Important and fortunate three points. Mo Salah is one of the best Liverpool players of all time. However, coaches need to learn to take him off when he is having a bad game. Both he and Szobo weren't up to par. Szobo got replaced but Mo stayed and almost gave away a goal in the dying minutes. Coach has to be more ruthless if we're to be real contenders.

Lee: Liverpool made hard work of it but a win is a win and in these early days of the season it is a very important one. Saw some big difference in approach between Slot and Klopp here, Slot seemed happy, especially in the last 15, to allow Wolves to be on the ball. The press was much more conservative and targeted throughout.

Gerry: Liverpool didn't ever get going. Slow from the start and uncomfortable in control. We had only a few moments where I thought we could get something out of this match. Sloppy passing at times led to chances missed that should have won the game. We've only played lower placed teams at the moment. I'm not convinced Slot's style will beat the best!

Manchester City's former goalkeeper Joe Hart recently spent time with Liverpool's Alisson.

They discussed Arne Slot, trophies, moustaches and more. Take in some clips or listen to the interview in full here.

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Virgil van Dijk speaks about Ibrahima Konate to BBC Radio Merseyside after Liverpool's win at Wolves: "I think we need everyone to be at their best. He is a fantastic player who still can be better. As you saw, he is important with the goal, he is defensively solid, a bit unlucky with the goal we conceded, but obviously the qualities he has are outstanding in my opinion. He is learning, growing, getting better and looking after himself much better in order to be ready every three days as that's what asked. And also we have a young player behind him in Jarrell, who is also doing well. We have to keep pushing each other and he is doing a good job."

On the response to defeat against Nottingham Forest: "I don't like to go back that far. I think we have a very good squad, a mix of experience and talent, players at a very good stage in their career. It's good to see the way we play and defend. Especially if you saw in the last 10 minutes today how many times Mo was heading balls away, that's the commitment we need from everyone."

Listen to Andy Robertson and Van Dijk speak to BBC Radio Merseyside here

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Former Premier League defender Micah Richards believes Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate has "so much potential" and believes the Frenchman could become "top class".

Speaking on Match of the Day, Richards said: "He's got all the tools to be a top class centre half. It's always been Van Dijk and another, Quansah started the season and Arne Slot brought Konate on at half-time.

"His positioning has got a lot better, you see the size of him, the frame of him. In the air he's really good."

Speaking about Konate's goal against Wolves, Richards said: "This is what he can do, when he's given the licence to go forward and win the header."

But, he does believe there are some improvements that the 25-year-old needs to make before fulfilling his potential, such as "communication" and "being the leader at the back".

"For Wolves' goal there was a communication error between Alisson and him, just kick it out don't worry about it - safety should always be first," said Richards.

"I watched him a lot at Leipzig - there's so much potential.

"There's all these things he's tremendous at - last ditch tackles he can do that, he can get back in, pace - no problem at all. To go to the next level now if he can just concentrate a little bit more and be a bit more assured on the ball."

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Bayern Munich are looking out for developments on Liverpool's 31-year-old goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who has been linked with a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia. (Sun), external

Liverpool are one of several Premier League clubs monitoring the situation of 21-year-old Sevilla winger Juanlu Sanchez. (Caught Offside), external

The Reds are not concerned by new claims that 32-year-old Mohamed Salah has already agreed to join a Saudi Arabian club when his contract expires next summer. (Football Insider), external

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Highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Arsenal 4-2 Leicester

• Wolves 1-2 Liverpool