AC Milan 1-3 Liverpool: Slot’s Reds cruise to victory at San Siro

Liverpool earned a big opening three points of their 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaign as they took down AC Milan at the San Siro.

Despite an early strike from Milan’s Christian Pulišić, goals from Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, and Dominik Szoboszlai helped give Arne Slot a perfect start to life at the helm of one of football’s true European giants.

Travelling to Italy off the back of a disappointing Anfield loss to Nottingham Forest, this evening’s clash offered a chance for the Reds to put things right for themselves and their fans.

With the Derby della Maddonina on the horizon this weekend, three points for the hosts tonight would’ve been the ideal preparation.

As it happened

It was a dream start for the Rossoneri, who took the lead in as little as three minutes thanks to a tidy run and finish from Christian Pulišić.

The former Chelsea man picked up the ball and darted down the right-hand side, lifting his head up and looking for an open man inside the box. With options few and far between, the American international decided to go alone, squeezing the ball into Alisson’s far corner from a tight angle.

Eager to right the wrongs of their recent loss to Nottingham Forest, Liverpool quickly found their feet and came close to a swift equaliser from Mohamed Salah, but the prolific Egyptian’s effort rattled against the crossbar.

A rash challenge from Milan captain Davide Calabria handed the visitors a free-kick in a brilliant position, and with Trent Alexander-Arnold over the ball, you know a goalscoring opportunity is on the cards.

His delicate cross met the head of Ibrahima Konaté, who nodded home his third Champions League goal to equalise for Arne Slot’s side.

In what started as a back-and-forth affair, it was Liverpool who took control of proceedings and once again carved out a good opportunity at goal; once again, however, Salah struck the woodwork.

In the 41st minute, skipper Virgil van Dijk finally put the Reds into a deserved lead, breaking free inside the six-yard box to nod home a Kostas Tsimikas corner.

The second-half produced a more even affair, as Liverpool looked to secure their opening three points of the Champions League campaign, and AC Milan hoped to spark a comeback.

Rossoneri goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who had been struggling with a niggle throughout the entirety of the first half, was forced off shortly after the second 45 minutes began. He was replaced by Lorenzo Torriani.

Alvaro Morata, who joined the club from Atletico Madrid in the summer, went down in the box and darted his eyes towards referee Espen Eskas, but a free-kick was awarded for simulation.

Down the other end, Liverpool continued to probe, seeking a comfortable two-goal cushion. Just past the hour mark, a Codky Gakpo cross connected with the leg of Dominik Szoboszlai and glided into the side-netting to give Arne Slot and his side exactly what they were looking for.

The third goal for the visitors took the edge off of the match, with AC Milan unable to influence proceedings whatsoever in the closing stages, confirming a big opening victory of the 2024/25 European campaign for Liverpool.

The lineups

ACM: Maignan; Calabria, Pavlović, Tomori, Hernández; Fofana, Loftus-Cheek; Pulišić, Reijnders, Leão; Morata

LIV: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Jota