AC Milan 1-3 Liverpool: Reds start Champions League campaign with victory

Arne Slot’s debut Champions League match as Liverpool’s manager concluded with a 3-1 victory despite an early deficit.

AC Milan 1-3 Liverpool
Champions League (1), San Siro Stadium
September 17, 2024

Slot made two adjustments from the team that lost to Nottingham Forest three days prior, substituting Kostas Tsimikas and Cody Gakpo for Andy Robertson and Luis Diaz on the left.

Milan took the lead in the third minute when Christian Pulisic, formerly of Chelsea, slipped past Tsimikas and sent a shot into the bottom corner past Alisson. Tsimikas’s decision to contest the header initially was puzzling.

Liverpool struggled early on but began to find their rhythm, with Mo Salah hitting the crossbar in the 17th minute.

The Reds, dressed in their dark kit, equalized midway through the first half when Ibrahima Konate headed in a Trent Alexander-Arnold free kick from the edge of the box.

Liverpool could have gone ahead shortly after, but Diogo Jota’s poor finish missed the target, despite the option to pass to Gakpo.

Salah struck the bar again and then forced a save from the Milan goalkeeper, who seemed to be carrying an injury.

Liverpool took a 2-1 lead five minutes before halftime with Virgil van Dijk heading in a corner from Tsimikas on the opposite side.

Half time: AC Milan 1-2 Liverpool*

Liverpool nearly extended their lead early in the second half when Cody Gakpo’s shot was deflected to Jota, who was thwarted by the Milan ‘keeper, already hampered by injury.

The third goal came from a well-placed pass by Ryan Gravenberch to Gakpo, who set up Dominik Szoboszlai for a close-range finish.

Slot introduced Darwin Nunez, but the forward struggled in front of goal. Joe Gomez made his season debut at right back.

Federico Chiesa also made his debut during stoppage time.

Overall, Liverpool showed improvement from their previous game, with notable performances, particularly from Gravenberch in midfield, though there is still room for enhancement.

The win is significant in the new Champions League format, with only the top eight teams avoiding a winter play-off to advance to the latter stages.

TIA Man of the Match: Ryan Gravenberch

Referee: Espen Eskas (Norway)

AC Milan: Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Loftus-Cheek, Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Morata, Leao
Subs: Nava, Okalor, Torriani, Zeroli, Chukwueze, Emerson, Bartesaghi, Terracciano, Gabbia, Musah, Abraham

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold (Gomez 79’), Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister (Endo 90+2’); Salah (Chiesa 90+2’), Gakpo (Diaz 68’), Jota (Nunez 68’)
**Subs not used:** Kelleher, Jaros, Gomez, Quansah, Bradley, Robertson, Jones, Morton

**Next Match:** Bournemouth (home, Saturday 21 September)