Liverpool made a sensational comeback to the Champions League with a commanding 3-1 victory over AC Milan at the iconic San Siro on Tuesday night. After a year away from Europe’s elite competition, the Reds bounced back from a shaky start to dominate the game, with goals from Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Dominik Szoboszlai sealing their win.
The night began on a sour note for Liverpool as AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic capitalized on disorganized defending to put the home side ahead just three minutes into the game. Sprinting down the right flank, Pulisic fired home from a tight angle, shocking the visitors and their traveling fans.
Despite the early setback, Liverpool quickly regained their composure. The Reds stamped their authority on the game, dominating possession and creating numerous chances. Ibrahima Konate equalized in the 23rd minute, rising high to head in a precise free kick from Trent Alexander-Arnold. This was Konate’s first goal in two-and-a-half years, coming after a well-earned set-piece opportunity created by Davide Calabria’s foul on Cody Gakpo.
Liverpool’s relentless pressure paid off again just before halftime, with skipper Virgil van Dijk heading home from a Kostas Tsimikas corner to put the visitors in the lead, much to the delight of the 4,400 traveling Reds fans.
Dominik Szoboszlai capped off Liverpool’s night with a clinical finish in the 67th minute, slotting the ball into the far corner after a fast-paced counter-attack. The goal came courtesy of a pinpoint cross from Cody Gakpo, as Milan’s defense struggled to regain possession.
Liverpool’s new manager, Arne Slot, celebrated his first Champions League match in charge with a birthday victory. Turning 46 on the same day, Slot was serenaded by Liverpool fans post-game, marking the occasion with a thrilling performance from his side.
“A great way to spend my birthday,” said Slot. “After the first five minutes, you wouldn’t have thought this outcome was possible, but we responded brilliantly.”
Read also: Manchester City’s 115 alleged financial breaches: ‘sports trial of century’ kicks off
Reflecting on the game, Virgil van Dijk praised the team’s resilience after conceding the early goal. “We had a shaky start, but the way we stayed calm, kept playing, and looked for solutions was impressive,” the captain told Amazon Prime.
Mohamed Salah could have extended Liverpool’s lead even further, hitting the crossbar twice in the first half. Despite not finding the back of the net, Salah’s presence was key in Liverpool’s attacking dominance.
This victory comes as a much-needed boost for Liverpool, who were stunned by a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday. Manager Slot expressed his pride in the team’s response. “After the loss on Saturday, to come here and go 1-0 down early, you always wonder how the team will react. Tonight, we showed how good we can play,” Slot said.
