AC Milan 1-3 Liverpool | Match Report & Player Ratings | OneFootball

Written by Mark Strickland

In the wake of a momentum-halting defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest at Anfield, it was imperative that Arne Slot’s side returned to winning ways upon a return to the Champions League for the six times winners of Europe’s elite competition.

Liverpool were indebted to both centre-backs Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk as the giant duo scored first-half headers before all-action midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai added a third in the 67th minute.

The Reds were forced to come from behind after American forward who was once heavily linked with a move to Anfield and another former Chelsea misfit, Christian Pulisic, who scored on the night Liverpool won the Premier League, had given Milan a third-minute lead.

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The Reds suffered the worst possible start when Kostas Tsimikas, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister were all caught out, allowing Pulisic to advance and strike low and hard across Alisson Becker.

Slot’s side responded well and quickly took control of the match and opportunities followed, with Mohamed Salah unlucky as he hit the underside of the bar with his weaker foot.

Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan – who was eventually forced off through injury – parried a cross from Cody Gakpo – in for Luis Diaz – which Salah controlled before hitting the bar once again.

Striving for parity, The Reds were level when Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered a free-kick that towering centre-back Konate glanced beyond Maignan – his first goal since April 2022.

Arne Slot Post-Match Press Conference | AC Milan 1-3 Liverpool

Captain, leader, and legend, Virgil van Dijk completed the turnaround, rising highest to convert a corner from newly installed Tsimikas, a repeat of the Carabao Cup final heroics.

After Ryan Gravenberch won the ball back and set the attack underway, an inspired Cody Gakpo eased past Stranhinja Pavlovic and crossed to Szoboszlai, who opened up his body, cushioning the ball into the vacant goal, albeit somewhat fortuitously off his shin.

Player Ratings

XI: Alisson 8, Trent Alexander Arnold 8, Ibrahima Konate 8, Virgil Van Dijk 7.5, Kostas Tsimikas 7; Alexis Mac Allister 7, Dominik Szoboszlai 7, Ryan Gravenberch 8.5; Mohamed Salah 7, Diogo Jota 6, Cody Gakpo 8.

Subs: Darwin Nunez 6, Luis Diaz 6, Joe Gomez 6, Wataru Endo N/A, Federico Chiesa N/A

All of us at Redmen TV wish to pass on our condolences and state that all our thoughts are with the family and friends of supporter Philip Dooley who tragically died following a traffic accident in Bergamo.