Tens of thousands of spectators at San Siro Stadium witnessed a spectacular comeback in the first half, but it was Liverpool, not the home team AC Milan, in the early morning of September 18.
Traveling to the Italian capital with many pessimistic predictions about a “less good, more bad” tour, Liverpool showed that the experts were completely right with their assessment.
Home team AC Milan launched an attack right after the opening whistle and scored an early goal in the 3rd minute. Christian Pulisic dribbled from midfield, charged straight into Liverpool’s penalty area and fired a decisive shot, opening the score.
Christian Pulisic (11) and teammates rejoice after the early opening goal
Conceding a goal so quickly, the visitors were forced to attack strongly. After Mohamed Salah’s shot hit the crossbar in the 17th minute, just 5 minutes later, center-back Ibrahima Konate headed home an equalizer for Liverpool from Alexander-Arnold’s left-wing free kick.
Center back Ibrahima Konate (5) headed in the equalizer for Liverpool
It was quite surprising when AC Milan gradually lost control of the game and by the 30th minute, only the crossbar saved the home team after Mohamed Salah’s second unlucky shot.
However, the home team could not avoid conceding a goal in the 41st minute, this time from a set-piece situation. Tsimikas took a corner kick from the right wing and centre-back Van Dijk jumped the highest, heading the ball past home goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Virgil van Dijk makes it 2-1 for Liverpool
AC Milan’s “spider man” himself had to leave the field due to injury early in the second half and his replacement Lorenzo Torriani had to watch his own net shake again.
In the 67th minute, Cody Gakpo assisted Dominik Szoboszlai to score, sealing a 3-1 victory for Liverpool.
Dominik Szoboszlai sealed a 3-1 win
This is the fourth consecutive time Liverpool have beaten home team Milan at San Siro since 2008, twice against Inter Milan and twice against AC Milan.
Coach Arne Slot and Liverpool players have an opening victory in the Champions League