Liverpool defeat AC Milan 3-1 in Champions League group opener as their Dutch manager, Arne Slot celebrated his 46th birthday with 3 points.
Liverpool started their 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaign impressively after recording an excellent 3-1 win away to AC Milan at the San Siro on September 17, 2024. Stacked with expectation from both teams, this tie had a lot of promise. Milan took the lead in the game before Liverpool's resilience and clinical finishing earned them all three points.
The match began explosively with AC Milan scoring in the third minute of the match. Off a well-timed pass, Christian Pulisic let fly to the back post past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker to give Milan an early 1-0 advantage. Milan's high pressing and energetic start had caught Liverpool off guard, with the Rossoneri seemingly ready to control the tempo of the game.
That setback did not really unsettle Liverpool, though. The Reds regrouped quickly and started to impose their game, pressing Milan high up the pitch and creating their opportunities. Mohamed Salah almost drew Liverpool level in the 17th minute, rattling the crossbar after a well-placed shot.
That Liverpool equalizer came in the 23rd minute through a set piece, another habitually occurring theme in this match. Ibrahima Konaté rose highest to meet a corner kick, nodding the ball past Milan's Mike Maignan to level the score. The goal seemed to shift momentum in Liverpool's favor, the visitors slowly but surely growing increasingly dangerous from dead-ball situations.
Just before halftime, another corner that Liverpool had seen was converted into the circle to take the lead. The consistent and strong aerially, Virgil van Dijk headed home to make it 2-1 after some great delivery from Trent Alexander-Arnold as Milan's defense, which had looked so fragile all game on set pieces, had no answers to Liverpool's physicality and precision.
Milan restarted with a lot of urgency, but things only got worse when goalkeeper Mike Maignan was forced off following a collision with his teammate Fikayo Tomori. The injury saw 18-year-old Lorenzo Torriani make his competitive debut between the posts.
Liverpool continued to expose Milan's frailties as they doubled the lead in the 66 minute. A blunder from Milan defender Strahinja Pavlović allowed Cody Gakpo to streak clear before teeing up Dominik Szoboszlai, cool as you like, through on goal, slotting calmly into the net for 3-1 Liverpool.
Despite going down by two goals, AC Milan fought hard to get back into the game. Rafael Leão was close to pulling a goal back for the hosts in the dying minutes, after he hit the post following a strong solo run. However, Milan's attacking efforts were ultimately in vain as Liverpool's defense stood firm.
The victory of Liverpool over AC Milan sealed the determination that saw them fight back into the match, which clearly got out of their hands early. Dominant from set pieces and strong at the back, the Reds left San Siro with all three points while Milan, who started so brightly, were left to rue those missed chances and lax moments in defense. This puts Liverpool in good position, eyeing their way through to the group stages of the Champions League.