Why Arne Slot Wasn’t Fully Satisfied With Liverpool’s Win Over Bologna | OneFootball

Arne Slot’s Honest Take on Liverpool’s Performance Against Bologna

When Liverpool faced Bologna in their latest Champions League match, the Reds emerged with a 2-0 victory, but head coach Arne Slot remained refreshingly candid in his post-match assessment. While many fans and pundits might have expected him to be “delighted” with the result, Slot was clear: there is still much work to be done, particularly in terms of possession and intensity.

Photo: IMAGO

Liverpool’s Victory Overshadowed by Performance Concerns

Arne Slot’s debut Champions League match at Anfield saw goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah, securing three points for Liverpool. However, statistics from the game revealed some unsettling details. Despite being favourites on home soil, Liverpool only managed 52% possession and took fewer shots than Bologna (9 to 12). Both teams had one significant goal-scoring opportunity each, but it was Bologna who missed their chance.

Slot’s dissatisfaction was evident in his post-match interview with TNT Sports. When asked if he was “delighted” with the result, he responded with characteristic straightforwardness:

“I don’t know if there were many things I was ‘delighted’ with, apart from both goals, because we scored two very good goals – especially the second one,” he explained.

Liverpool’s second goal, which came from a series of intricate plays involving Diogo Jota dropping deep and a well-timed pass from Virgil van Dijk, was a highlight for Slot. Yet, even with this success, Slot remained critical of the team’s overall performance, particularly in how they handled Bologna’s high-pressing, man-marking strategy.

Bologna’s High Risk and Liverpool’s Struggles

Bologna, like Atalanta in previous encounters, implemented a man-marking strategy across the pitch, forcing Liverpool to play carefully to avoid losing possession. Slot explained the challenges this posed:

“But it’s always difficult to play a team that takes that much risk and is constantly on top of you. Second half was better in pressing, I felt, than the first half.”

While Liverpool did improve their pressing in the second half, Slot suggested the first-half performance lacked the intensity and control needed to break through Bologna’s tactics. Liverpool’s challenge was further complicated by poor decision-making in the final third of the pitch, with Slot noting that the last pass “could have been better.”

Difficult First Half for Liverpool

Slot was not shy in pointing out where Liverpool faltered. The first half, in particular, seemed to expose cracks in their game. Slot pointed to the dangers of playing against a man-marking system when Liverpool failed to win long balls, which left the team vulnerable:

“It’s difficult, so if the other team plays man-marking all over the pitch and you play a long ball and you don’t win it, they have the ball again.”

He highlighted the visible frustration on the pitch, with heads dropping after each lost ball. This passive response allowed Bologna to regain the initiative, and it was this loss of focus and intensity that troubled Slot. The second half saw a marked improvement in pressing, with Liverpool regaining some measure of control, but Slot’s overall impression was one of concern over their first-half approach.

Photo: IMAGO

Positives Amidst the Criticism

While the Dutch coach was reluctant to say he was fully satisfied, there were certain aspects of the game he praised. The substitution of Darwin Nunez for Diogo Jota early in the second half brought renewed energy, and Slot was pleased with Jota’s contribution to Salah’s second goal.

He also highlighted the defensive efforts of key players like Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, singling out their determination to protect the clean sheet:

“What I was also delighted with – so there are a few things – is if I look at Ibou, Virgil, how they throw themselves in front of the ball, how they do everything to keep a clean sheet.”

Slot made it clear that this defensive mentality was crucial for the team moving forward. Despite the general unease with their overall performance, these individual moments of determination showed the kind of grit Liverpool need to maintain if they are to compete effectively in Europe.

Photo: IMAGO

The Road Ahead

Slot’s post-match reflections serve as a reminder that success in football isn’t always defined by the scoreline alone. While Liverpool’s 2-0 victory was undoubtedly a positive result, the performance against Bologna raised questions about consistency and decision-making. For Slot, the challenge will be to build on the positives while addressing the areas where his team struggled, particularly in handling high-pressure, man-marking opponents.

As Liverpool look to future fixtures, Slot’s focus will no doubt be on finding the right balance between maintaining possession and applying pressure at the right moments. The road to European success is long, and if Liverpool want to reach their potential, Slot’s honest assessments may be exactly what the team needs.