Arne Slot has become the first Liverpool manager to win eight of his first nine matches, with Mohamed Salah’s brilliant strike sealing a 2-0 victory over Bologna in the Champions League on Wednesday. Slot’s impressive start to his tenure has Liverpool dreaming of another memorable European campaign, as they claimed their second successive Champions League win this season.
Slot, who took over from Jurgen Klopp, has deftly guided Liverpool to a flying start. Their latest victory at Anfield marks yet another milestone for the Dutchman. Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring in the first half, and Salah secured the win with his 49th Champions League goal in the closing stages. With this result, Liverpool remain unbeaten in the Premier League after six matches, and Slot has ensured that the team hasn’t missed a beat since Klopp’s successful reign ended.
Not even Liverpool’s legendary managers—Klopp, Kenny Dalglish, Bill Shankly, or Bob Paisley—managed to win as many of their opening matches. “It’s hardly impossible to do something special at this club,” Slot said. “It says a lot about how we started, how the players bought into it, and the effort put in. We’ve kept many things the same; the players were very happy with former regimes. It’s nice to start this way, that’s clear.”
Liverpool began their European campaign with a 3-1 win against AC Milan, and this latest confident display added to the excitement of Slot’s first Champions League night at Anfield. Slot, who has previous Champions League experience with Feyenoord, aimed to create a “special night,” and his team’s performance delivered on that promise.
Klopp led Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2019 and reached the finals in 2018 and 2022, leaving a lasting legacy of iconic moments. Now, Slot’s assured start has Liverpool’s fans dreaming of another deep run in Europe. Reflecting on the match, Slot said, “It wasn’t an easy one, in my opinion. Bologna made it difficult. The last pass could have been better. Overall a good result, but I wouldn’t use the word ‘delighted’ myself.”
Bologna, making their Champions League return after a 60-year absence, put up a spirited fight but lacked the finishing touch to create an upset. As Slot noted, there are still more challenging fixtures on the horizon, starting with a Premier League clash against Crystal Palace on Saturday, just days after their midweek European encounter.
Slot’s start has been a mix of tactical acumen and player buy-in, setting the stage for what could be a season to remember at Anfield.