Liverpool make confident start

LIVERPOOL, England:

Liverpool are making one of the toughest fixture lists in the new-format Champions League look quite easy.

Two Italian teams have now been comfortably dealt with, as unheralded Bologna were beaten 2-0 yesterday two weeks after AC Milan were brushed aside 3-1 in San Siro.

Two German opponents are up next -- including former Liverpool star Xabi Alonso returning to Anfield as Bayer Leverkusen coach -- then comes two Spanish teams, including a visit of defending champions Real Madrid.

Those stellar home games in November can show new Liverpool coach Arne Slot how the famed stadium can pulsate on European nights after he enjoyed a relatively calm home debut in the Champions League.

Mohamed Salah's magical left foot created an 11th-minute goal for Alexis Mac Allister and curled in a rising shot in the 75th.

The Egypt star set a club record by scoring in a fifth straight home game in the European Cup or Champions League, as he was watched from the stands by the club's scoring greats Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish.

Playing in the marquee competition for the first time in almost 60 years, Bologna are still looking for a first goal though not for lack of trying.

Bologna struck the frame of Liverpool's goal twice and forced Allison Becker into a key diving save in an intense spell of pressure around the half-hour mark. The Italian side drew 0-0 with Shakhtar Donetsk two weeks ago when failing to make 17 goal attempts count. There were 12 more against Liverpool.

"Overall, a good result, but I wouldn't use the word 'delighted' myself today", Slot said.

Bologna will be back in England in three weeks' time to next face Aston Villa, who beat Bayern Munich 1-0 yesterday.

Liverpool go to Leipzig on October 23 to continue one of the toughest schedules of the 36 teams, playing only teams from the big-5 leagues in the first seven rounds.

A third straight win, and nine points, would likely assure Liverpool of at least advancing to the knockout playoffs. The top eight teams go direct to the round of 16 in March.

In other matches yesterday, Atalanta beat Shakhtar Denetsk 3-0, Feyenoord edged Girona 3-2, Club Brugge registered an away 1-0 win over Sturm Graz, Juventus also won on the road, defeating Bologna 2-0 in an all-Italian affair, Real Madrid were stunned 1-0 at French club Lille, Dinamo Zagreb and Monaco played out a goalless draw, Benfica routed Atletico Madrid in yet another upset and in one of the day's biggest shockers, Aston Villa beat powerhouse Bayern Munich 1-0.