Liverpool vs Bologna predictions: Reds to be too hot for Bologna

Gareth Freeman
Spotlight
Dutch head coach Arne Slot has enjoyed a fine start to his time at the helm of Liverpool.
Dutch head coach Arne Slot has enjoyed a fine start to his time at the helm of Liverpool.

- Liverpool have scored eight goals across their last two home games
- Bologna’s one loss this season was a 3-0 defeat.
- Recommended Bet:
Liverpool to win 0-2 3-Way Handicap

Liverpool opened their Champions League campaign with a 3-1 win at AC Milan, ultimately winning fairly comfortably despite conceding an early goal at the San Siro and they face Italian opponents again in their second fixture as Bologna make the trip to Anfield.

The visitors enjoyed a stunning season last year as they secured their place in Europe’s top competition. However, they lost manager Thiago Motta to Juventus over the summer and key men Ricardo Calafiori and Joshua Zirkzee made big-money moves to the Premier League.

Team news

Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson was forced off with a knock in the win over Wolves last time out and is rated as a doubt, with Kostas Tsimikas in line to deputise if he does miss out.

Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez was absent from the squad at Molineux due to illness but could return on Wednesday.

The hosts will definitely be without Harvey Elliott and he is not expected to be available again until the end of the month.

Bologna will be without Scotland international Lewis Ferguson due to an ACL injury, while midfielder Oussama El Azzouzi and summer signing Nicolo Cambiaghi have both been missing since August due to respective knee issues.

Tommaso Pobega, who is on loan from AC Milan, has missed the last two games for the visitors but has a slight chance of being involved at Anfield, while Santiago Castro and Remo Freuler are also rated as doubts after picking up knocks in the draw with Atalanta.

Head coach Vincenzo Italiano has found it tough to make his mark in charge of Bologna.
Head coach Vincenzo Italiano has found it tough to make his mark in charge of Bologna.

The stats

Liverpool have never faced Bologna previously in a competitive fixture.

They have won each of their last 10 group/league stage games at Anfield in major European competitions, scoring at least two goals in their last nine in a row.

Bologna have won just one of their seven games across all competitions this season (D5, L1).

Liverpool have won their last four games, scoring 12 goals and conceding three in the process.

Prediction

Liverpool play their first home Champions League game of the season on Wednesday and they have a chance to make a bit of a statement against Bologna.

The Reds have already claimed a comfortable win over Italian opponents this term after a 3-1 win at AC Milan in their opener in this competition and they may be able to win by an even bigger margin against the Rossoblu.

Bologna have struggled to match their exploits from last year this term, with just one win in seven, but they have been fairly tough to break down.

The visitors have only lost once, but there have been a few games where they have been clinging on and they are facing a reds side in good goalscoring form.

Arne Slot’s side have scored eight goals across their last two home games, while Bologna’s one loss this season was a 3-0 defeat at Napoli and they rode their luck at the weekend as they somehow managed to hold visiting Atalanta to a 1-1 draw. 

Bologna will try and keep this game tight, but they may struggle to keep their hosts quiet.

Liverpool have won their last four games in a row and have scored multiple goals in all of those victories, and they can win by three or more goals on Wednesday. 

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LiverpoolBolognaChampions League