Liverpool secured a 3-1 victory against AC Milan on Sept 17, marking a stylish start to their campaign in the revamped Champions League.
Arne Slot’s team responded well to conceding an early goal from Christian Pulisic and went on to secure a comfortable victory with goals from Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Fashion Week began in Milan on September 17, and the visiting team displayed impressive skills at the San Siro stadium in a showdown of the European football elite.
Liverpool and Milan European Rivalry: A Historic Clash
Liverpool and Milan have each been crowned continental champions 13 times and have faced each other in the Champions League finals, with Liverpool emerging as the superior team in their latest encounter. The Reds could have won by a larger margin if Mohamed Salah had not been denied by the woodwork twice in the first half.
Liverpool bounced back to top form after losing at home to Nottingham Forest, while Milan continued to struggle under new coach Paulo Fonseca before the upcoming Milan derby on Sept 22.
Milan Struggles Under Paulo Fonseca: Fan Frustration Grows
Fonseca has failed to win over the Milan supporters. On the night of September 17, fewer than 60,000 fans attended their team’s most high-profile match of the new league phase of Europe’s top club competition, indicating a significant drop in attendance.
Milan will likely have to face Italian champion Inter Milan, who will take on Manchester City on Sept 18, without France goalkeeper Mike Maignan. He limped off with a knee injury early in the second half.
Early Pressure and Pulisic Goal Give Milan False Hope
Milan fans displayed a giant banner reading “fearless” before kick-off, and the hosts immediately pressured Liverpool, forcing Virgil van Dijk to clear Tijjani Reijnders’ low cross.
And Pulisic quickly put Milan ahead with his precise low finish, punishing Liverpool’s slow defense after being skillfully sent running towards the goal by Alvaro Morata at the end of a play initiated by goalkeeper Maignan.
Liverpool Quick Response: Konate and Van Dijk Turn the Tide
Liverpool responded quickly. They were unlucky in the 16th minute when Salah’s effort with his weaker right foot hit the crossbar.
And the visiting team, whose aggressive play had begun to make Milan lose possession easily, equalized when Konate headed in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s lofted free-kick.
With the Reds in control, Milan should have been behind before Van Dijk headed Liverpool ahead. Diogo Jota missed a great chance right after Konate’s equalizer, and Salah hit the bar with another shot at the half-hour mark.
Maignan Exit and Szoboszlai Strike Seal Liverpool Win
In the 51st minute, things took a turn for the worse for the home team when Maignan, who had already fallen to the ground in pain twice during the first half, limped off after a collision with Fikayo Tomori. Tomori was desperately trying to stop Jota from extending Liverpool’s lead.
Teenager Lorenzo Torriani substituted Maignan, and the rookie could only watch in the 67th minute as Szoboszlai scored from Cody Gakpo’s inviting cross after the Netherlands forward easily bypassed the slow Strahinja Pavlovic.
Disappointment in Milan as Fans Leave Before Final Whistle
Disappointed Milan fans began leaving before the final whistle, and the team received a deserved defeat met with a deluge of whistles and boos.
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