Liverpool breezed to a 2-0 win over Serie A side Bologna in the first of their double-header with the Italian side, with goals from Diogo Jota and Sadio Mané in the first half enough to seal a victory.The win, though, was certainly not the most important aspect of the afternoon.Virgil van Dijk made the first start of his comeback from injury, and played 42 minutes in all as he continues to get back up to full speed. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harvey Elliott were also among the positives for Liverpool, in what was a relatively routine outing. Here's five things we spotted during the game. Virgil van Dijk in controlIn his first start since last October, the central defender did not look out of place. But then this is Virgil van Dijk. The Dutchman had little to do going backwards, in fairness, given the very limited threat that Bologna contributed to the contest, but what he had to deal with, he did. Van Dijk spoke earlier in the week about how he was feeling confident and fit. More minutes beckon at Anfield at the weekend or on Monday, you would imagine or possibly even a bit of both but the signs are good that his progress is coming along nicely.Read MoreRelated ArticlesRead MoreRelated ArticlesHe got 42 under his belt this afternoon, and that was around 12 more than most anticipated.Norwich City XI not nailed on?Further to the Van Dijk point above, Ibrahima Konaté and Joël Matip, it had been thought, were almost nailed on to start on the opening day of the season in nine day's time. The selection in this game, though, you might think could have opened up the possibility of that plan, if it ever were the case, to be changed. Surely if Konaté and Matip were the pairing for the first match of the Premier League campaign, they would have played this one together to further build upon their understanding? This was an indication that perhaps things are not quite so clear-cut, even if both Van Dijk and Joe Gomez are both still not fit enough to play the same number of minutes as their teammates. Diogo Jota shinesInside seven minutes, Liverpool were ahead. It would be generous to call it a 'high' press Bologna gave up the ball rather easily but Diogo Jota won it back, jinked to the right and finished clinically. Amid all the talk of whether Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or even Takumi Minamino could stake a claim to start regularly in front of Roberto Firmino next season, it has been slightly forgotten that the Portuguese forward exists. Diogo Jota of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the pre-season match between Liverpool and Bologna on August 05, 2021. (Image: Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)If Chamberlain, Minamino or anyone else is to usurp Firmino in the side next season, it could very easily be that they would become the back-up to Jota as a reward, rather than anything else, given Jota could cement himself as a starter.He's not been back from his holidays long, but the 24-year-old looks sharp. Forget the year of Firmino, or the year of the Ox. It could well be the year of Diogo Jota. He was impressive, particularly in the first half, here.Sadio Mané looks sharpIt was not just the goal that Mané scored again rather gifted to him by the Italians but his pressing and energy that seemed to have returned (in truth, for the first time this pre-season). Mané pressed and chased and harried, and that was even before the morale-booster of his goal. Read MoreRelated ArticlesRead MoreRelated ArticlesHe looked confident again, and while not everything came off for him (there was a rather ambitious nutmeg inside the penalty area that didn't come off in the first half an hour), Mané showed some positive signs. He needs a big season, and his first full pre-season since 2016, the year he signed for Liverpool, appears to be helping.Latest Harvey Elliott signEven without the fact that he had a good game, it is interesting that Elliott was once again chosen to play in the stronger of the two teams, ahead of Curtis Jones. He had a volley that went wide after good work from Naby Keïta and Trent Alexander-Arnold to tee him up it was another good performance from the Guinean, incidentally, though only time will tell whether that translates into the season proper but even the fact that he was in the right place to take the shot is promising. Certainly, he offers something different from the centre of the pitch that Liverpool don't have: a regular goalscorer and creator. How often he will play there once the season starts and Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcântara are back, it remains to be seen, but midfield could be a genuine long-term role possibly even the one Klopp sees for him ahead of his usual wide berth.Read MoreRelated ArticlesRead MoreRelated Articles