Liverpool respond to Forest loss by defeating AC Milan in Champions League opener
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk celebrates with team mates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between AC Milan and Liverpool at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
ARNE Slot could hardly have made a better start to his first European campaign as Liverpool head coach.
The weekend defeat to Nottingham Forest may, by the Dutchman’s own admission, have been a setback as he attempts to impose his ideas on his new squad but the response of his players was particularly impressive.
Trailing after just three minutes, Slot’s side demonstrated commendable character to work their way back into the game through Ibrahima Konate and then take a half-time lead thanks to Virgil van Dijk.Â
A third goal from Dominik Szoboszlai was no more than Liverpool deserved as they got their Champions League campaign up and running with an eye-catching victory.
This was the Reds’ first appearance in the competition since they were beaten in the round of 16 by Real Madrid 18 months ago and a visit to the San Siro only added to the sense of occasion.
The format may have changed but there was a familiar feel to this meeting of two clubs with such a significant shared history on this stage. And the manner of this win was the ideal way to announce their return.
The backdrop to this particular game, however, meant little to Slot, whose focus was trained only on making a winning start to the revamped eight-game schedule that precedes the knockout stages of the competition.
The Dutchman reacted to Saturday’s disappointing home defeat by making two changes to his starting line-up with Cody Gakpo and Kostas Tsimikas coming in for their first competitive starts under the new head coach in place of Luis Diaz and Andy Robertson.
That loss had punctured the growing excitement surrounding Slot’s side after a winning start to the campaign. And any uncertainty generated by defeat only increased as Liverpool fell behind with less than three minutes on the clock.
Milan had already found space behind the Reds backline before they were again easily unpicked by a direct counter-attack involving Alavaro Morata and Pulisic, two of four former Chelsea players in the Serie A side’s starting line-up.
A clearance by keeper Mike Maignan was headed towards Morata whose first time flick sent Pulisic clear on the right. The USA international was allowed to advance from deep unchallenged, making his way into the visitors’ penalty area before shooting across Alisson and inside the far post.
It was the worst possible start to the game for Slot’s side and the impact on their belief was evident for the next ten minutes. Their response after that though was impressive.
Mohammed Salah soon became more prominent and the forward was unfortunate to see a powerful shot bounce to safety off the underside of the bar after finding space on the right hand side of the Milan box.
But the breakthrough came from the other flank after Trent Alexander-Arnold had been presented the chance to deliver a direct free-kick into the box after a reckless challenge by Milan right-back Davide Calabria. Alexander-Arnold whipped the ball in and Konate directed it past Maignan with a glancing header.
The early shock well and truly behind them, Liverpool looked increasingly assured and the side most likely to force the advantage before the break. Salah was a again unlucky moving on to a loose ball after Maignan had only been able to parry Gakpo’s shot but the Egypt international once again hit the bar.
Salah was again denied following an incisive counter-attack, this time seeing his low shot pushed to safety for a corner. Liverpool’s frustration was only fleeting, however, with Tsimikas directing the resulting corner into the six-yard box where van Dijk rose unchallenged to head his side into a 41st minute lead.
Milan were unconvincing after their bright start and the expected threat of Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez down the home side’s left hand flank rarely materialised in the opening half. There was further disruption for Paulo Fonseca’s side at the start of the second half when Maignan was forced off after denying Diogo Jota from close range and replaced by 19-year-old Lorenzo Torriani.
Liverpool remained resolute, comfortably dealing with Milan’s best attacking efforts when the Italians attempted to force a way back, while always looking capable of extending their lead.
Tsimikas was guilty of snatching at two good shooting opportunities but the third eventually came in the 67th minute after another incisive move. Gakpo was again involved breaking down the left betfore delivering a cross that was turned in by Szoboszlai.
Maignan 7 (Torriani 51, 6); Calabria 5 (Emerson 69, 6), Pavlovic 5, Tomori 6, Hernandez 5; Fofana 5, Loftus-Cheek 6 (Abraham 69, 6); Pulisic 7, Reijnders 6, Leao 6; Morata 6 (Okafor 84, 6).
Alisson 6; Alexander-Arnold 7 (Gomez 79, 6), Konate 7, Van Dijk 7, Tsimikas 6; Gravenberch 8, Mac Allister 7 (Endo 90,6) ; Salah 8 (Chiesa 90, 6), Szoboszlai 9, Gakpo 8 (Núñez 68,6); Jota 6 (DÃaz 68,6).
Espen Eskas (Norway) 6.
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