Liverpool 1-0 Bologna - Champions League: Live score, team news and updates as Alexis Mac Allister breaks the deadlock at Anfield... plus the latest from Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich

It's lovely play from Liverpool. Szoboszlai to Nunez to Salah to MacAllister, who received the cross from the winger about two yards from goal. Sot's side have turned their early dominance into a lead.

Bologna have the ball in the back of the net but their celebrations are quickly ended by the offside flag. It was a nice assage of play from the visitors but the Bologna forward had made his run in behind too early.

Villa under the cosh

The home side are sttuggling to get out of their own half in the early exchanges. Kompany has this Bayern outfit in great form so far this season. His team are super aggressive, making it hard for Villa to get the ball.

An early chance for the Reds after some great play between Gravenberch and Salah. The Egyptian produced a great cross into the box which evaded three Liverpool players in the middle.

Ian Ladyman at Anfield, Mail Sport:

At Anfield and at Villa Park the players are out onto the pitch ahead of kick-off. Villa supporters are putting in one hell of a shift - the atmosphere in the west Midlands is incredible.

Ian Ladyman at Anfield, Mail Sport:

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Phew. Alisson's back to normal size.

Steve McManaman, ex-Liverpool star, TNT Sports:

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

Lewis Steele at Anfield, Mail Sport:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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:

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.

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.

Lewis Steele at Anfield, Mail Sport:

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.

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.

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:

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

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 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.

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.

Arne Slot, Liverpool manager, pre-match presser:

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!