Liverpool is set to host Bologna at Anfield on Wednesday, October 2, in their second match of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League season. This encounter marks a significant return to European competition for Liverpool, who missed out on the Champions League last season.
Match Background
Liverpool began their European campaign on a strong note, defeating AC Milan 3-1 at the San Siro in their first match. This victory was part of their impressive start to the season, with the Reds currently sitting at the top of the Premier League table.
Bologna, on the other hand, has had a mixed start to the season. The Italian side drew their opening Champions League match 0-0 against Shakhtar Donetsk and currently sit in 13th place in Serie A with just seven points from six matches.
Team News and Lineups
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has made one significant change to the starting lineup, with Darwin Nunez replacing Diogo Jota, who was a fitness concern after picking up a foot problem in the previous match against Wolves. Jota, however, has recovered enough to take a spot among the substitutes.
The confirmed starting XI for Liverpool includes Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Diaz, Salah, and Nunez. The substitutes list includes Kelleher, Jaros, Gomez, Tsimikas, Quansah, Endo, Morton, Jones, Bradley, Gakpo, Jota, and Nyoni.
Bolognas starting lineup features Skorupski, Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda, Freuler, Moro, Urbanski, Ndoye, Dallinga, and Orsolini. The substitutes include Bagnolini, Ravaglia, Corazza, Aebischer, Holm, Erlic, Casale, Odgaard, Lykogiannis, Fabbian, Iling-Junior, and Castro.
Managerial Insights
Arne Slot, the new Liverpool manager, has emphasized the importance of this match, urging his players and fans to show how much they missed the Champions League. Slot expressed his desire to see the team's passion and determination, stating, 'What I expect from our players, theyve missed out on the Champions League for a year, so when they step out on the pitch tomorrow I want to see this, I want to feel this, that they feel like, Oh, we missed this for a season, now a club of this standard we have to be ready.
Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano is aware of the challenging task ahead, acknowledging that Liverpool knows how to put their opponents in difficulty in every part of the game. Italiano emphasized the need for his team to stick to their game plan and give their best individual performances.
Streaming and Telecast Information
The match will kick off at 8:00 PM BST and will be broadcast live on TNT Sports in the UK and Ireland. Fans can also stream the match on the discovery+ platform, which includes TNT Sports, Eurosport, and other entertainment content. In India, the match will be telecasted on the Sony Sports Network and streamed live on the SonyLiv app and website.
For those in other regions, checking local listings or UEFA's official streaming partners will provide the necessary information to watch the match live.
Historical Context
Bologna's participation in the Champions League is significant, as it marks their first appearance in the competition in 60 years. The last time Bologna played in the European Cup was in 1964, when they were knocked out in the preliminary round by Anderlecht. This season's campaign is a major milestone for the club, which finished fifth in Serie A last season, their highest league placing since 1971.
To learn more about the UEFA Champions League and its history, you can visit the UEFA Champions League page on Wikipedia.
As the match approaches, both teams are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting and competitive encounter. With Liverpool aiming to continue their strong start and Bologna seeking to make a statement in their return to European competition, this match is one not to miss.
