MILAN, Italy – Liverpool cruised to a 3-1 victory over AC Milan in the opening game of the newly expanded Champions League competition, but Arne Slot’s side had to rally recover to score a third-minute wonder goal from Christian Pulisic to seal victory at the San Siro.
Seven-time European champions Milan faced six-time winners Liverpool. For UEFA, it was the perfect glamour duel to kick off the new league phase of the competition. Although Pulisic’s goal scared Liverpool early on and gave Milan hope of a surprise victory, the reality was different, as Liverpool made light work of the home team.
Mohamed Salah hit the crossbar twice before defenders Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk both headed in from set pieces to give Liverpool a 2-1 half-time lead. A 67th-minute goal from Dominik Szoboszlai sealed the game for Liverpool, but their victory was never in danger after they cancelled out Pulisic’s opener. — Mark Ogden
Liverpool’s set piece threat clearly visible under slot
It is still early days for Slot at Liverpool, but his side’s first two goals against Milan showed that the former Feyenoord coach has made a subtle change in approach compared to his predecessor Jürgen Klopp.
Klopp’s Liverpool focused on goals from their attackers and midfielders and did not rely too heavily on practice to convert set pieces, but headers from Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk in the first half showed Slot’s willingness to exploit the physical attributes of his defenders, both of whom are well over six feet tall.
First, Konate powerfully headed Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free kick from inside the six-yard box past a struggling goalkeeper Mike Maignan, before Van Dijk did the same from a Kostas Tsimikas corner. Both goals were simple and direct, further testament to Slot’s work with this team.
It must also be noted that as impressive as Liverpool were in execution, Milan were abysmal in defence. Centre-backs Fikayo Tomori and Strahinja Pavlovic were far too passive in defending both passes, and Konate and Van Dijk will not have easier chances all season. Their aerial dominance is unquestionable, and Liverpool will score more goals from set pieces this season if they exploit these strengths. — Ogden
“Captain America” starts brilliantly before Milan fades
The evening couldn’t have started better for Christian Pulisic. A pass from Álvaro Morata, an ineffective save from Tsimikas and there he was, charging down the right flank and slamming the ball diagonally past Alisson, evading a desperate Alexis Mac Allister’s clearance.
However, things went downhill from there, partly because Milan failed to pass him the ball and partly because, with Liverpool on the attack, Pulisic spent a lot of time running backwards to help Davide Calabria deal with Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota on the left side of the Liverpool attack.
The chemistry between Pulisic and Morata is also something coach Paulo Fonseca wants to work on. Aside from the first goal, the US and Spanish internationals failed to combine, especially when Morata dropped back from his central striker position. He was as busy as ever without the ball, but a little more threat to Alisson’s goal would have been welcome. — Gab Marcotti
Alexander-Arnold and Leão show their good and bad sides
The head-to-head clash between AC Milan striker Rafael Leão and Liverpool defender Alexander-Arnold perfectly summed up the strengths and weaknesses of two of the sport’s most talented, yet annoying, players.
Leão’s performance was rather straightforward, as he only showed moments of his best for Paulo Fonseca’s team. The Portugal international is quick and tricky – enough to beat any defender on a good day – but there was nothing to be gained against Liverpool. At one point in the first half, Leão ran 40 metres with the ball to delight the crowd, but instead of heeding the unmarked runners on either side, he got into trouble and lost possession. That was his night until he showed his talent once in the 96th minute, hitting the post.
Alexander-Arnold made more good contributions than bad, but there is no doubt that he continues to pose a problem defensively. More than once, centre-back Konate had to urge his team-mate back into position after wandering into midfield or staying up front after an attacking move. Had Leão been more aware of his surroundings, he would have exploited the gaps left by Alexander-Arnold and hurt Liverpool, but that did not happen.
The English star lost the ball too often, but set up the first goal for Liverpool with his famous free kick cross from Konaté.
It’s the same with Alexander-Arnold as always. He’s great at what he does well, but his weaknesses can be nasty and ugly for Liverpool. — Ogden
Maignan injury could harm Milan in the long term
The sight of “Magic” Mike Maignan pounding the turf in frustration after sustaining an injury in a collision with Fikayo Tomori early in the second half was hard for Milanist to endure, perhaps even more than defeat.
The French goalkeeper, who asked for treatment three times in the first half, was visibly in pain as he left the field. At best, his participation in this weekend’s Milan derby is doubtful; at worst, he will be sidelined for a longer period.
It’s worth noting that he’s been struggling with his calf in recent days but assured the team that he’s ready to play. Had Sportiello, who was injured in pre-season and is likely to be out until January, been fit, he would likely have started. As it turns out, Maignan’s fitness probably didn’t help Liverpool’s set-piece goals.
To make matters worse, his replacement, former Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello, is currently injured, which explains why Fonseca had to resort to 19-year-old Lorenzo Torriani – who had never played a single minute in the first team – to replace Maignan. In fact, Torriani was only the third goalkeeper last year… for Milan’s U21 team.
No way you’ll be thrown in at the deep end.
Torriani couldn’t do much about Szoboszlai’s goal and he looked quite confident on the pitch. He wasn’t afraid to play out from the back like Maignan likes to do and at one point he ran out of his box to fire a long ball over the bar. All in all, it wasn’t a bad debut but it’s probably better for Milan if they don’t have to see him for a while. — Marcotti
Why this subdued mood?
On Saturday, 71,273 fans filled the San Siro to see Milan take on newly promoted Venezia in a Serie A match, with the hosts winning 4-0. Four days later, only 59,826 spectators attended the visit of six-time European champions Liverpool to the RossoneriOpening match of the redesigned UEFA Champions League.
How do you explain the absence of over 11,000 fans? The prestige of the event or the opponent is obviously not the reason. One clue could be the prices being asked.
The cheapest tickets available cost €74 ($82), while the cheapest low-end tickets cost €124 ($138). In contrast, Liverpool’s most expensive Regular adult seats cost £61 ($80), leading to protests from fans on social media and, predictably, several empty seats on Tuesday night.
In terms of entrance fees, the Champions League is of course a goldmine for the clubs, but of course you also have to make sure that people get into the seats. — Marcotti
Milan too gentle for Zlatan’s taste
They waited, as they usually do, until deep into injury time and then let them run free.
The Milan players lined up in front of the Curve Southostensibly to thank the club’s black-clad hardcore Ultras fans for their support, but actually to let them off steam. And they did so by singing: “Let’s see something!” and “We’re fed up!”
Of course, no fan will be happy about a 3-1 home defeat on the first matchday of the new Champions League, but the manner of the game reflects a more complex problem that is troubling the club: the idea that coach Paulo Fonseca is too nice, that some players are too soft and that a hard man – a “football man” – is needed to instill discipline.
That man is, of course, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who sits on the board of RedBird, the club’s owners. No one doubts that he is a tough guy and a winner, and his arrival in the summer was hailed as a coup. Finally, a former player in the upper echelons who could command everyone’s respect and act as a link between the dressing room, coach, management and ownership.
Ibrahimovic was absent before that match (“for personal reasons,” he said) and immediately went into Zlatan mode before kick-off. Of his absence, he said: “When the lion goes away, the cats come out. When the lion comes back, the cats disappear.” He then added: “What is my role? Very simple. A lot of people talk, but I’m in charge. I’m the boss and everyone works for me.”
If that’s the case, he’ll have his work cut out for him, as Milan have won just one of their first five games in all competitions this season. Time will tell if he’s the tough boss who gets everyone on his side, or if he’s more like the old Saturday Night Live sketch. — Marcotti
