There will be tougher tests to come, as Arne Slot frequently likes to remind Liverpool, but there is no disputing the confidence, quality and momentum that is surging through this team under the guidance of its new head coach. Slot became the first Liverpool manager or head coach in history to record eight victories from his first nine matches in charge as Bologna were dispatched in a hard-fought contest at Anfield.

Alexis Mac Allister marked his first Champions League home game for Liverpool with his first goal of the season. Mohamed Salah quashed Bologna’s growing hopes of a point with a stunning second half strike to extend his European goalscoring record for the club on Liverpool’s 250th appearance in the Champions League/European Cup. New leader, new era this may be, but Liverpool’s authority on the European stage remains unchanged.

Bologna deserved Liverpool’s respect, Slot had insisted, having qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history last season with a club record 68 points. Their boisterous, sold-out away support was certainly up for their inaugural away trip in the competition. Slot was also mindful of the problems Liverpool had against the man-marking style of Atalanta in last season’s Europa League. But the respect had to come with a recognition that Bologna subsequently lost the coach who led them into the Champions League, Thiago Motta joining Juventus in the summer, along with striker Joshua Zirkzee and defender Riccardo Calafiori to Manchester United and Arsenal respectively.

The Italians appeared weakened, and uncertain in their new, elevated company, during a dominant opening 20 minutes from Liverpool who took a deserved lead through Mac Allister. Bologna celebrations of a Thijs Dallinga goal, deftly clipped over Alisson but when clearly offside, had only just been curtailed when the Liverpool midfielder advanced and found Darwin Núñez on the edge of the penalty area. Núñez released Salah in space on the right and the Egypt international swept a superb cross behind a static visiting midfielder. Having instigated the move, Mac Allister finished it off by ghosting in behind three Bologna players and volleying beyond Lukasz Skorupski from close range.

Liverpool looked in rampant form. Núñez beat the Bologna goalkeeper with a convincing finish but was offside when collecting Trent Alexander-Arnold’s pass. Dominik Szoboszlai’s daisy-cutter rolled inches wide of the far post following a slick exchange with Salah.

But then the sloppiness that crept into Liverpool’s play at Wolves on Saturday, and prompted Slot to criticise the “mediocrity” he will not accept, reared its ugly head again. The momentum was handed to Bologna, along with several opportunities to draw level. Striker Dan Ndoye had a shot deflected on to the crossbar by Ibrahima Konaté with Alisson seemingly beaten after Szoboszlai lost possession outside his own penalty area. Riccardo Orsolini steered a free header against teammate Dallinga when found unmarked at the back post by Nikola Moro’s dangerous free-kick. Liverpool failed to clear the danger and, after Alisson had clawed away a low cross from Juan Miranda, Ndoye fired against the base of a post. The Bologna pressure and the Liverpool mistakes continued and Alisson made a fine save to deny Kacper Urbanski when Ndoye dispossessed Alexander-Arnold and gave the midfielder a clear sight of goal.

Liverpool regained their composure and rhythm before the interval. Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch were central to the improvement and Núñez had a decent chance to double the hosts’s advantage only to volley straight at Skorupski. Bologna, 13th in Serie A and with only one win to their name in all competitions this season, continued to trouble Liverpool, however.

Orsolini volleyed straight at Alisson when picked out unmarked and only six yards in front of the Brazilian’s goal by Miranda’s deep cross. Urbanski was presented with another clear opening by Ndoye when the forward cut across Alexander-Arnold and found the midfielder in space 20 yards out. Urbanski blazed over. Bologna captain Remo Freuler also went close, but to an own goal when glancing an Andy Robertson corner just wide of his far post.

Any concerns that Liverpool may have harboured over Bologna’s persistent threat were extinguished by the consistent brilliance of Salah’s left foot.

The club’s leading marksman in European competition produced a stunning, trademark finish to settle the contest with 15 minutes remaining. Receiving Szoboszlai’s pass on the corner of the visitors’ penalty area, and using Alexander-Arnold’s over-lapping run as a decoy, Salah stepped across left-back Miranda and curled an unstoppable shot into Skorupski’s top right hand corner. It was the 32 year-old’s ninth goal in his last nine Champions League outings and his 48th goal in 77 European appearances for Liverpool in total. He almost supplied a delightful assist for Mac Allister too but the Bologna keeper saved bravely at the midfielder’s feet as Liverpool ended the game in control.