Liverpool’s last European game at Anfield should serve as a stark reminder ahead of Bologna’s visit to Merseyside
If Arne Slot were looking for a reference point to highlight the perils of underestimating a European opponent, he would not have to go too far back in Liverpool’s history.
It was only in April of this year that the Reds suffered one of their most humbling defeats on the continental stage, losing 3-0 at home to Atalanta in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. On Wednesday, Liverpool will host another Italian opponent – Bologna, this time – at Anfield in what is their first home European tie since that dismal night against Gian Piero Gasperini’s side.
Of course, there are some major differences in the contexts of the two games. Crucially, the Reds are now competing in the Champions League and are doing so under the guidance of a new head coach.
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Liverpool have made a flying start to life under Arne Slot and appear to be unshackled from the emotional burden that defined the second half of last season ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s stirring summer departure. However, while Bologna’s impending visit to Merseyside appears – at least on paper – to be the most straightforward of the Reds’ Champions League league stage fixtures, picking up the three points on Wednesday night should not be viewed as a foregone conclusion by Slot’s side.
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Bologna were one of Europe’s biggest success stories last term, qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in their history after finishing fifth in Serie A. Despite that impressive feat, the club lost several key players in the summer transfer window, including defender Riccardo Calafiori and forward Joshua Zirkzee, now of Arsenal and Manchester United respectively.
Scotland international Lewis Ferguson, winner of last season’s ‘Bulgarelli Number 8’ award which is presented to the best midfielder in Serie A, remains sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, while head coach Thiago Motta was poached by Juventus.
It is no surprise, then, that Bologna have so far encountered a few teething problems under new boss Vincenzo Italiano as the former Hellas Verona midfielder gets to grips with his squad. The Italian side currently sit 13th in Serie A, having won just one of their six league games this term.
However, it’s worth noting Atalanta were not in a particularly rich vein of form before their shock triumph over Klopp’s side, having won just two of their eight games ahead of their visit to Anfield. That did not prevent the eventual Europa League winners running amok in L4, where a double from former West Ham United man Gianluca Scamacca and a late strike from Mario Pasalic put paid to Liverpool’s hopes of crowning Klopp’s glittering tenure with another European trophy.
Liverpool had plenty of chances in that game, with Darwin Nunez, in particular, guilty of being profligate in front of goal. That wastefulness was punished in spectacular style as the Reds suffered their joint-heaviest home defeat in European competition.
“Unfortunately there is nothing really positive to say about the game,” Klopp told TNT Sports post-match. “The start was good. Darwin Nunez had a good moment but from that moment on it became a really bad game and there is nothing positive to say.
He added: “A lot of performances tonight were really ‘oops, wow, I didn’t know they could play like that.’ A lot of the players looked really alone in a lot of moments. It was really bad. We had our biggest chances in the end and didn’t use them.”
With Italy international Federico Chiesa the only new face at Anfield this season, the vast majority of players who will feature on Wednesday will have had some part to play in that defeat. The memories of that miserable night should still smart at the AXA training ground and the Reds must surely be well aware that they cannot afford to be complacent against Bologna, particularly as it is still unclear how many points will be required to qualify for the last 16 in this new Champions League format.
“I know how special a home game at Feyenoord was, but the home games in Europe were even more special,” Slot told UEFA.com this week.
“So, because people told me it’s the same here at Liverpool, I expect a lot when we play the first game against (Bologna). I’m definitely looking forward to my first experience of European nights, a European evening.”
Defeat to Nottingham Forest aside, Liverpool have made an excellent start to life under the Dutchman. But, six months on from that Atalanta defeat, the Reds must show they have learnt their lesson if they are to make Slot’s first European night at Anfield memorable for all the right reasons.
