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Liverpool vs Bologna - Champions League: Live score, team news and updates as Arne Slot makes ONE change to side that beat Wolves... plus the latest from Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich

1 month ago 17

'Liverpool need a good performance to maintain momentum as much as anything'

Ian Ladyman at Anfield, Mail Sport:

Its pretty quiet here at Anfield. This feels like a big night for Bologna and all a bit routine for Liverpool.
But that’s terribly presumptuous. Liverpool need a good performance to maintain momentum as much as anything.

Prince William in attendance for Bayern visit

Fresh from awarding Ally McCoist with an OBE at at Windsor Castle, Prince William - one of Villa's many famous supporters - is at Villa Park tonight for the huge clash against Bayern.

 Aaron Chown/PA Wire

Alisson's double celebration

The Liverpool stopper is making his 50th European appearance for the Reds tonight on his 32nd birthday!

A special guest at Anfield

WBA featherwight world champion and proud Scouser Nick Ball is in attendance for the visit of Bologna. And he brought his belts along as well.

Kick-off fast approaching...

The action gets underway at Anfield and Villa Park in less than 20 minutes. Make sure you stay tuned for all the thrills and spills around Europe.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Aston Villa v Bayern Munich - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - October 2, 2024 Ballkids watch Aston Villa players during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Revealed: Aston Villa's touching tribute to club legend ahead of Bayern Munich clash who died following head injury

More on that touching tribuet to Gary Shaw in the Villa team sheet we told you about earlier. For more information on the former Villa star and his impact on the club, make sure to check out the below on Mail Sport.

Kane and Co put through their paces

How's that ankle Harry? Kane has a pretty long record of returning from injury too quickly. I'm thinking of the 2019 Champions league final or Euro 2024.

Let's hope he's free of any discomfort tonight in what could be a superb showdown.

 Mike Egerton/PA Wire.RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.

 Mike Egerton/PA Wire.RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.

Warm-ups underway at Anfield

Phew. Alisson's back to normal size.

Liverpool's English defender #66 Trent Alexander-Arnold warms up ahead of the UEFA Champions League league stage football match between Liverpool and Bologna at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on October 2, 2024. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool v Bologna - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - October 2, 2024 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during the warm up before the match Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Alisson Becker of Liverpool warms up prior to the UEFA Champions League  - League Stage match Liverpool vs Bologna at Anfield, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 2nd October 2024(Photo by Craig Thomas/News Images)

'We'll really judge Slot after the international break'

Steve McManaman, ex-Liverpool star, TNT Sports:

[Slot's] start has been very good, impressive. You would exect him to have those point judging on the type of team they had last year and the fixtures they've jad this year.
So I'm not surprised that they've got so many points. There are going to be harder fixtures after the international break. So we'll really judge him then.

Alisson's shrunk a little hasn't he?

I couldn't not post this image when I saw it. The Liverpool stopper looks about 4ft tall!

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool v Bologna - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - October 2, 2024 Liverpool's Alisson Becker during the warm up before the match Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

'Bologna fans are enjoying every minute of their European tour and are in good voice before the match'

Lewis Steele at Anfield, Mail Sport:

Bologna are a perfect example of the price of success in football. After achieving their highest league finish since 1967 and qualifying for the Champions League for the first time, their squad has been obliterated.
Forward-thinking manager Thiago Motta jumped ship to Juventus while eight players departed, including Riccardo Calafiori to Arsenal, Joshua Zirkzee to Manchester United and Marko Arnautovic – remember him, Stoke fans? – to Serie A champions Inter Milan.
But despite being 13th under fantastically-named new boss Vincenzo Italiano, those fans from the home of bolognese sauce – serving it with spaghetti is a big no over there – are enjoying every minute of their European tour this year and are in good voice before the match here.

 Vincenzo Italiano, Head Coach of Bologna, winks prior to the Serie A match between Bologna and Atalanta at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on September 28, 2024 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Breaking:Bologna team news

I'll be honest, there are not many faces that will be familiar to Premier League fans. Remo Freuler is probably the biggest name due to his time with Nottingham Forest.

Villa stars arrive to an unbelievable welcome

Is it me or do Villa's players look slightly taken aback by the reception? Ezri Konsa is doing his best to stay in the zone but McGinn looks genuinely surprised.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Aston Villa v Bayern Munich - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - October 2, 2024 Aston Villa's John McGinn arrives at the stadium before the match REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Soccer Football - Champions League - Aston Villa v Bayern Munich - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - October 2, 2024 Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa arrives at the stadium before the match REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Soccer Football - Champions League - Aston Villa v Bayern Munich - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - October 2, 2024 Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez arrives at the stadium before the match REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Peek inside the away dressing room at Villa Park

It's not much to look at and I think that's kind of the point. Bayern have lost only one of their last 10 meetings against English sides and that was a 3-0 defeat by Man City in 2023.

Bayern boys in the building

Bavarian boys? Kompany's cast? Whetever you like, Bayern have arrived and they look as calm and focussed as you would expect for a team of their stature.

Reds arrive at a raucous Anfield

The home fans look in the mood for their first tast of European Cup action at Anfield this season.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool v Bologna - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - October 2, 2024 Bologna fans arrive outside the stadium before the match Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool v Bologna - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - October 2, 2024 General view of the Liverpool team bus arriving outside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Molly Darlington

 Fans of Liverpool arrive at the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between Liverpool FC and Bologna FC 1909 at Anfield on October 02, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

More touching tributes to Gary Shaw

Mail Sport's Oliver Holt has provided us with another example of a tribute paid to Shaw tonight. The message under the picture of the Villa hero reads:

This seat will remain empty today as a mark of respect following the tragic passing of Gary Shaw. In recent years, with his football statistics work, this was always Gary's seat whenever he was at Villa Park. Reast in Peace, Gary.

Breaking:Bayern team news: Harry Kane STARTS

What an imposing line-up Kompany has named to take on Villa tonight. Harry Kane has passed his fitness test and takes his place in the starting XI. Former Crystal Palace star Michael Olise starts but there's no place Jamal Musiala, which is a massive boost for Villa.

Breaking:Aston Villa team news: Bailey drops to bench

It's also only one change for Emery, who has replaced Leon Bailey with Jaden Philogene on the right flank. It's a big night for the talented winger.

'That’s a strong team named by Arne Slot which should have more than enough to get past Bologna'

Lewis Steele at Anfield, Mail Sport:

Liverpool have made just one change from the team that beat Wolves on Saturday, with Darwin Nunez coming in for Diogo Jota, who took a knock at Molineux.
Federico Chiesa misses out on the squad with a minor injury and it is uncertain whether he will be fit for the weekend’s trip to Crystal Palace. That’s a strong team named by Arne Slot which should have more than enough to get past Bologna, who are 13th in Serie A.

Breaking:Liverpool team news: Nunez replaces Jota

Even with the trip to Palace on Saturday afternoon, Slot has kept with a really strong team for tonight's game at Anfield - his first in the Champions League as Reds boss.

Nunez replaces Jota, who was a doubt after missing a couple of sessions in the week with a knock.

Michael Ballack at Villa Park

Villa Park wouldn't be able to house all the people rumoured to be at the game tonight. One person who we know is there is former Bayern Munich and Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack.

Maybe the unluckiest elite footballer? A bit harsh? Perhaps, but Ballack lost the league title, German Cup final, Champions League final and World Cup final all within a few weeks in 2002.

The German great did still manage to get his hands of plenty of silverware during his time in Munich and London.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Aston Villa v Bayern Munich - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - October 2, 2024 Former player Michael Ballack before the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Battle of the Three Lions frontmen

Fingers crossed anyways. Harry Kane faces a late fitness test for toight's game after taking a blow to his pesky ankle during Bayern's draw with Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.

The England skipper has been in great form this season and he scored four times in Bayern's Champions League opener last week. But that hasn't stopped Watkins from setting his sights on Kane's spot in the England team.

Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa:

Everyone is fighting for a position on the pitch so I want to be the man to play but day in day out. Harry and I have a good relationship. When I'm in the camp I speak to him so there's no animosity.
I'm doing all I can to be on the pitch and so is he. He's got the records and scored the number of goals he has for a reason. He's put in a lot of hard work over the years to get there.

Soccer Football - Euro 2024 - Semi Final - Netherlands v England - Dortmund BVB Stadion, Dortmund, Germany - July 10, 2024  England's Ollie Watkins comes on as a substitute to replace Harry Kane REUTERS/Lee Smith

'We are motivated and so excited to play with our supporters in Villa Park'

Unai Emery, Aston Villa manager, pre-match presser:

We are motivated and so excited to play with our supporters in Villa Park. It is a special, special match for everyone. We are very motivated coming back to Europe last year, with Aston Villa not playing Bayern Munich since 42 years ago.

 Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 training and press conference at Bodymoor Heath training ground on October 01, 2024 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)

Fitness issues hitting the Reds?

Arne Slot confirmed on Tuesday that Federico Chiesa will miss tonight's clash with a small issue, while Diogo Jota could also miss out having sat out a couple of sessions after getting a knock against Wolves.

Elsewhere, Andy Robertson and Darwin Nunez, who missed the weekend win at Molineux with illness, could also be left out.

The Reds travel to south London to take on Crystal Palace at 12:30 on Saturday - that's a pretty brutal turnaround. But I'm sure Klopp told Slot all about that.

Team news will be with us before the hour.

 (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 training and press conference at AXA Training Centre on October 01, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Villa's touching tribute to Gary Shaw

The former Aston Villa hero will be sorely missed tonight following his death after a fall in his home last month. Shaw was part of the Villa side that claimed the European Cup in 1982, scoring vital goals in the early rounds.

In a touching tribute to him, it looks like Villa have included him in their squad list for tonight's game, next to an icon of the Champions League in place of a roster number.

Aston Villa's European Cup-winning captain Dennis Mortimer is on a mission to reclaim iconic kit when Bayern Munich come to town

Pic Andy Hooper/Daily MailDennis George Mortimer is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder and captained Aston Villa. He made nearly 600 appearances in the Football League playing for Coventry City, Aston Villa, Sheffield United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Birmingham CityHe won the European Cup in 1982 with Aston Villa beating Bayern Munich 1 nil.

Anticipation building at Villa Park

Villa couldnt have asked for a better opponent in their first home game in the Champions League in more than 40 years. Bayern Munich, the side they defeated 1-0 in the 1982 in the Netherlands arrive in the west Midlands looking to spoil one hell of a party.

And despite the superb start to the campaign by Vincent Kompany's men, Villa will feel they have enough quality to get something from the clash.

 Mike Egerton/PA Wire.RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.

 A detailed view of a blue flag which features the emblems of Aston Villa and Bayern Munich on the inside of the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between Aston Villa FC and FC Bayern München at Villa Park on October 02, 2024 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

 A detailed view of the UEFA Champions League Trophy inside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between Aston Villa FC and FC Bayern München at Villa Park on October 02, 2024 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Julian Finney - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

'We as a team CANNOT accept mediocrity'

Arne Slot, Liverpool manager, pre-match presser:

We didn’t concede anything in the last 15 minutes – I think they only had two shots in the second half – but in promising situations we lost the ball before it led to a chance, and we lost the ball a few times really easy before it even got to a promising situation. We as a team, if you have so much quality, cannot accept mediocrity.

CORRECTION / Liverpool's Argentinian midfielder #10 Alexis Mac Allister speaks during a press conference on the eve of their UEFA Champions League 1st round day 2 football match against Bologna, at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, north west England, on October 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / "The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Paul ELLIS has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [at Anfield stadium] instead of [at the AXA training centre]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience

Another night of Champions League fun

Good evening and welcome to Mail Sport's coverage of Wednesday night's Champions League action with a special focus on Liverpool's clash against Bologna and Bayern Munich's trip to Villa Park.

Arne Slot's men are looking to make it two wins from two in this year's competition after recording a comfortable 3-1 win in their opener against AC Milan. Bologna were European football's revelation last term under Thiago Motta but the Italian has left to join Juventus, while Joshua Zirkzee and Riccardo Calafiori have made moves to the Premier League. Can they still spring a surprise?

Elsewhere, Villa welcome Bayern to the west Midlands in what is sure to be an emotional night. Villa of course won the European Cup in 1982 thanks to a 1-0 win against the Germans. The surving members of that team will be brought out onto the pitch tonight. Sadly Gary Shaw, who passed away last month, will be missing, though you'd expect the club and or his former team-mates to honour him in front of the home ground.

Team news and updates aplenty before kick-off around Europe at 8pm!

Bologna players take part in a walkabout on the pitch at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England, on October 1, 2024 on the eve of their UEFA Champions League 1st round day 2 football match against Liverpool. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

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