Another victory is in the bag for Liverpool as it maintains a strong start to the season under Arne Slot , securing a hard-fought 2-0 Champions League win against Bologna on Wednesday evening.
Alexis Mac Allister was the first to find the back of the net, converting a Mohamed Salah cross early in the game. The Egyptian star then followed up with a stunning second-half strike, ensuring another three points for the Reds in the competition, building on their opening 3-1 triumph over AC Milan two weeks ago.
Anfield was buzzing with positivity after the match. Here's how the national media reacted to a solid result for Arne Slot's team.
Paul Joyce, for The Times, highlighted that the victory wasn't as straightforward as the scoreline might suggest.
"Arne Slot is still waiting for the rip-roaring, relentless Anfield display that he hoped would serve as a reminder to Europe's elite about Liverpool's potency and ambition," he wrote. "Instead, what we saw was a win that maintained a perfect start to their Champions League campaign, but an outcome that was more satisfying than the overall performance."
Chris Bascombe, a former ECHO writer, discussed Liverpool's adjustment to Slot's new methods in the Telegraph.
"To call Liverpool's lapse arrogance or complacency would be too simplistic," he wrote. "Nothing in Slot's messaging would hint any tolerance of that.
"Another theory is in trying to work its way through different gears, Liverpool has not quite mastered the art of retaining control when reducing the pace. When Alisson and his center-backs are eager to be more patient in their build-up, the idea is obvious as no side can be expected to maintain the highest tempo for 90 minutes in every fixture. When there is jeopardy in the scoreline, this leads to anxiety in the stands which swiftly transmits to the players."
"This Liverpool side is still at its best when at full throttle and the limits of the potential of many of those at Slot's disposal bode well given they are winning so often while a work in progress."
Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail reflected on Liverpool's impressive start to the season under manager Slot, who has become the first Reds boss to secure eight victories in his first nine matches. "What do we make of them so far this season?" he mused.
"They are top of the Premier League and two from two in Europe. That's a reasonable statement on its own. Slot has overseen eight wins in nine games, the only slip being the home defeat to Nottingham Forest in the middle of last month."
Meanwhile, Chris McKenna of the Mirror has praised Mohamed Salah's continued influence on the team. "Mo Salah doesn't even seem to have hit top gear yet - but he continues to be the driving force in this Liverpool side," he wrote.
"We've only just hit October and he's scored six goals and created five. Nobody has reached similar tallies in both so quickly since John Barnes netted five with five assists in 1989-90. What should be scary for the Reds' rivals is that the Egyptian king hasn't even hit full throttle yet.
"The stats don't suggest it but those who go to Anfield regularly will tell you that Salah isn't quite firing on all cylinders. What a terrifying thought for Premier League and European defenses."
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