Liverpool bounced again from defeat on the weekend by beating Milan 3-1 of their first Champions League recreation beneath Arne Slot.
A riveting first half noticed Liverpool’s centre-backs reign supreme, with Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk scoring from shut vary after Christian Pulisic had given Milan an early lead.
Dominik Szoboszlai offered a 3rd for Liverpool within the second half to safe an essential victory on matchday one of many new-look Champions League.
How the sport unfolded
After falling to a 1-0 defeat at residence to Nottingham Forest on the weekend, Liverpool have been in determined want of a response of their Champions League opener. Nonetheless, they have been handed an early blow to the nostril as a substitute as Milan raced into the lead after simply three minutes.
Some poor defensive work down Liverpool’s left-hand facet allowed Pulisic to dash unchallenged in direction of Alisson’s aim and the previous Chelsea winger fired a low drive past the Brazilian into the far nook.
After a shaky begin to proceedings, Liverpool began to seek out their ft after quarter-hour and got here near an equaliser via Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian’s fast ft manufactured a capturing alternative however his highly effective right-footed effort slammed the underside of the crossbar.
Liverpool did not have to attend lengthy for his or her leveller although. The twenty third minute supplied the Reds their route again into the match after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s delicate cross was nodded residence by Konate from simply six yards out.
The guests swiftly discovered themselves within the ascendancy as Diogo Jota fluffed a incredible alternative and Salah hammered the crossbar for a second time, however Van Dijk’s close-range header did finally hand Liverpool a deserved one-goal benefit heading into the break.
Liverpool’s night may have gotten significantly better simply moments after the restart however Jota’s effort was nicely smothered by Mike Maignan, with the Milan goalkeeper swiftly withdrawn as a consequence of harm after denying the Portuguese.
Slot’s males did finally seize the all-important fourth aim of the sport and it was the brilliance of Cody Gakpo that helped Liverpool safe their two-goal cushion. The Dutchman broke away from the Milan defence and glided past Strahinja Pavlovic earlier than setting Szoboszlai up for a easy end.
Van Dijk got here near a brace when he headed over from one other harmful Liverpool set piece and Darwin Nunez snatched at two half-chances after changing Jota from the bench. Nonetheless, Slot’s facet had already accomplished the laborious work and eased to a major three factors to kick off their Champions League marketing campaign.
GK: Mike Maignan – 5/10 – Arguably ought to have commanded his field higher with Liverpool’s two first-half strikes however was struggling with an harm. Nonetheless made some first rate saves earlier than being substituted early within the second half.
RB: Davide Calbria – 4/10 – A completely useless problem handed Liverpool the free kick from which they levelled and he struggled to deal with the tempo and ingenuity of Gakpo all through.
CB: Strahinja Pavlovic – 4/10 – A person of his dimension and stature ought to have been extra influential from Liverpool’s set items and he was bamboozled far too simply by Gakpo for the guests’ third.
CB: Fikayo Tomori – 6/10 – Largely saved Jota quiet and made some essential interventions when Liverpool broke with pace. Would have been hoping for extra help from his teammates alongside the backline.
LB: Theo Hernandez – 6/10 – A number of characteristically frantic bursts down the left flank however the French defender was pretty nameless for probably the most half.
DM: Youssouf Fofana – 5/10 – Booked for a cynical foul within the first half and was left strolling a tightrope for the rest of the sport. Subsequently struggled to command the midfield battle as Liverpool took cost.
DM: Ruben Loftus-Cheek – 5/10 – Sloppy in his distribution and contact, with little or no finish product when he did discover himself within the ultimate third. A disappointing show on the large stage.
RW: Christian Pulisic – 7/10 – Powered Milan forward early doorways with a effective run and end however discovered it tough to get entangled as the sport progressed.
AM: Tijjani Reijnders – 6/10 – Discovered some good pockets of house within the opening phases and kickstarted just a few assaults. Nonetheless, his affect waned considerably within the second half.
LW: Rafael Leao – 6/10 – There have been one or two trademark Leao moments as he drifted previous challenges however he could not make any telling contributions in a recreation the place Milan have been crying out for a talisman.
ST: Alvaro Morata – 7/10 – A intelligent header set Pulisic on his means for the opener and he brought on points for Konate along with his physicality and relentlessness.
Substitutes
SUB: Lorenzo Torriani (51′ for Maignan) – 6/10 – Bar just a few poor passes and kicks, he did nicely on his senior debut in powerful circumstances.
SUB: Tammy Abraham (70′ for Loftus-Cheek) – 6/10
SUB: Emerson Royal (70′ for Calabria) – 6/10
SUB: Noah Okafor (84′ for Morata) – 6/10
SUB: Matteo Gabbia (84′ for Tomori) – 6/10
Subs not used: Lapo Nava (GK), Davide Bartesaghi, Filippo Terracciano, Kevin Zeroli, Yunus Musah, Samuel Chukwueze.
Supervisor
Paulo Fonseca – 5/10 – Extra questions shall be requested of the brand new Milan boss after a disjointed show. A vivid begin was rapidly surrendered and Fonseca was unable to assist his facet wrestle management from Liverpool.
GK: Alisson – 6/10 – Largely untested and helpless for Milan’s early strike. Handed the hosts just a few alternatives with some slack passing.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8/10 – The Englishman’s supply was on level as Liverpool drew degree and he dealt with Leao competently down the right-hand facet. His playmaking skills helped the Reds slice Milan open.
CB: Ibrahima Konate – 7/10 – Ought to have closed Pulisic down quicker because the American fired Milan in entrance however made amends with a uncommon aim 20 minutes later. Settled after a nervy begin and completed robust.
CB: Virgil van Dijk – 8/10 – Something Konate can do, Van Dijk can do too. The Dutchman scored a really comparable header simply earlier than half-time to place the Reds forward and was dominant in his duels with Morata and Abraham.
LB: Kostas Tsimikas – 6/10 – Nowhere to be seen for Milan’s opener after speeding ahead aimlessly to press however his correct nook allowed Van Dijk to go Liverpool into the lead. A combined show from the left-back.
DM: Alexis Mac Allister – 8/10 – Snapped into tackles, set the tempo and was calm beneath stress – precisely what Liverpool wanted in a troublesome surroundings. Nearly offered an help within the second half with a shocking via ball.
DM: Ryan Gravenberch – 7/10 – Liverpool missed the safety of a pure quantity six within the early phases however Gravenberch grew in prominence as the sport wore on. Usually swish in possession and on the flip.
RW: Mohamed Salah – 7/10 – Desperately unfortunate to strike the woodwork twice within the first half with stable efforts and can marvel how he did not go away San Siro with a aim to his identify. Nonetheless, he was a relentless menace down the fitting.
AM: Dominik Szoboszlai – 8/10 – An incredible show from Szoboszlai, who labored his socks off when closing Milan down and made some sensible runs deep into Milan territory – one in all which led to his instinctive aim.
LW: Cody Gakpo – 8/10 – Having come into the crew for the vigorous Luis Diaz, Gakpo proved an actual handful for Calabria along with his motion and agility. Good in possession, created probabilities for teammates and arrange the third with an beautiful piece of play.
ST: Diogo Jota – 6/10 – Spurned a wonderful alternative to place Liverpool forward shortly after Konate’s header and lacked his common scientific edge within the ultimate third.
Substitutes
SUB: Darwin Nunez (68′ for Gakpo) – 5/10
SUB: Luis Diaz (68′ for Jota) – 7/10
SUB: Joe Gomez (79′ for Alexander-Arnold) – 6/10
SUB: Federico Chiesa (90+3′ for Salah) – N/A
SUB: Wataru Endo (90+3′ for Mac Allister) – N/A
Subs not used: Caoimhin Kelleher (GK), Vitezslav Jaros (GK), Andy Robertson, Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah, Curtis Jones, Tyler Morton.
Supervisor
Arne Slot – 7/10 – After a rocky opening quarter-hour, Liverpool responded in fashion. Slot’s system helped nullify Milan’s attacking threats and the Reds have been fast to punish their hosts with quick breaks. An excellent evening’s work after a troublesome weekend.
