Liverpool vs Bologna

Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four home games in the UEFA Champions League, as many as in their previous seven such matches in the competition. Indeed, the Reds have kept a shutout in 10 meetings with Italian opponents in the competition – their joint-most against sides from a single nation (Spain, also 10).

Bologna attempted 12 shots in this match – the most an away side has had in a UEFA Champions League group stage match at Anfield since CSKA Moscow managed 13 efforts in December 2017 (13).

Mohamed Salah is the third player to score in five consecutive UEFA Champions League home games for a Premier League side, after Thierry Henry with Arsenal (7) and Ruud van Nistelrooy with Manchester United (6).

Liverpool and Bologna have never previously faced before, while Bologna will be the Reds’ 10th different Italian opponent in European competition, after Internazionale, Juventus, Roma, Genoa, Milan, Fiorentina, Napoli, Udinese, and Atalanta.

Bologna have faced three English sides previously in all European competitions, most recently Fulham in the 2002 Intertoto Cup. Their last in a major European competition came against Leeds United in the 1966-67 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, losing via a coin toss after a 1-1 aggregate draw over two legs.

In European competition, sides from no other nation have beaten Liverpool at Anfield more times than Italian clubs (7 – level with Spanish). The Reds have lost three of their last five at home to Italian sides (W2).

Liverpool have won each of their last 10 group/league stage games at Anfield in major European competitions, scoring 2+ goals in their last nine in a row. Their last such defeat, though, was to an Italian side, losing 0-2 to Atalanta in November 2020.

Despite attempting 17 shots, Bologna’s first UEFA Champions League game ended 0-0 on MD1 against Shakhtar Donetsk. Only two teams have drawn their first ever two games goalless – Galatasaray in 1993 and Villarreal in 2005.