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'Bologna made it difficult'

Arne Slot looks on
[Getty Images]

Liverpool boss Arne Slot, speaking to TNT Sports: "It wasn't an easy one, in my opinion Bologna made it difficult.

"Similar to Atalanta - man-mark all over the pitch. Wait for the right moment if you play through, completely open - it was many times. The last pass could have been better."

On his time at the club so far: "Not only the players, also the staff I inherited, who were here before, it was positive from the start, the players as well. Keeping many things the same, they were very happy with former regimes. The good thing is that they bought into it."

On what he was delighted with this evening: “Not many things delighted with, apart from both goals, especially the second one. Great ball from Virgil [Van Dijk], great attack, great run from Trent Alexander-Arnold. It is always difficult to play a team that takes that much risk.

"Overall a good result but I wouldn't use the world delighted myself today."

On Ryan Gravenberch: "I was delighted with him. I don’t say that to players at half-time because there is still 45 minutes to go but I said after the game ‘again big performance’.

"Ryan was again outstanding today."

On the change in momentum in the first half: "I don't think it was concentration, it started off with free-kick they got, a few times conceded set pieces, a team gets momentum. You could see they have a very good game plan.

"If we play against a team comfortable in ball possession, sometimes you have to work hard, suffer, what I was delighted with was how they throw themselves in front of the ball, do everything to try and keep a clean sheet."

On his record, winning eight out of his first nine games as Liverpool boss: "It's hardly impossible to do something special at this club.

"It says a lot about how we started how players bought into it, the effort put in, the staff helped me. Even more difficult fixtures coming up starting on Saturday when we play a 12:30 kick-off after a Wednesday evening Champions League game. It's nice to start this way, that’s clear."