After this thrilling comeback victory, NO ONE could have faulted boss Arne Slot for believing that “suits you, sir.”
The game turned around after an early disaster thanks to headers from Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, who became the first Liverpool central defenders to score in a Champions League match.
Liverpool beat AC Milan with an impressive Champions League displayCredit: Rex
Liverpool won their first Champions League match under Arne SlotCredit: Getty
Liverpool ace Ibrahima Konate equalised after AC Milan’s openerCredit: Getty
Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk turned the game around with a headerCredit: Rex
Dominik Szoboszlai sealed Liverpool’s first three points in the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
Dominik Szoboszlai contributed a tasteful third goal to make his manager’s 46th birthday a cause for applause.
Across the city, models are showcasing their skills on catwalks during Milan fashion week.
Slot took over amid abrupt questions about whether it is appropriate for him to want to transform his team after replacing Jurgen Klopp.
According to him, the new look he is creating has the potential to make the team the Premier League champions once more and possibly even the overlords of Europe in a different uniform with a more conservative, possession-based game.
Suddenly, during Nottingham Forest’s 1-0 victory last Saturday, that strategy had frayed holes in it.
The slot’s side was uninspired and largely flat, failing to execute a rearguard action meant to bustle and frustrate.
The match ended in a loss that startled Slot more than anyone thanks to a fantastic strike from Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The Kop, who had not yet completely thrown their support behind him, were seriously raising doubts following three straight victories without giving up a goal to begin his reign.
However, this was more reminiscent of the German heavy metal sound, even though Slot wants more control and less of the attacking mayhem of Klopp’s rule.
Still, he couldn’t have asked for a worse start to the evening.
After Forest’s loss, he made two substitutions: Andy Robertson was replaced by Kostas Tsimikas, and Luis Diaz was replaced by Cody Gakpo. As Milan took the lead in the third minute, the Greek left-back was probably wishing his employer had not bothered.
Mike Maignan, the Milan custodian, started a lightning raid down his flank, leaving him isolated.
Christian Pulisic pounced on his swift clearing as two teammates charged in behind him.
As Pulisic, one of Paulo Fonseca’s four former Chelsea players, raced inside, Konate became frightened and moved out of position.
The American attacker shot across the goal and into the far corner before Alisson realised what had struck him.
Alvaro Morata, Fikayo Tomori, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic’s former teammates at Stamford Bridge, joined him in joy as the stadium’s renowned Curva Sud went crazy.
a bad beginning
Because they were everywhere and their 4,400+ travelling fans were stranded up there in the sky, worried again, Slot and his team had the blues at this point.
However, Liverpool steadily took the lead in the match thanks to center-half Strahinja Pavlovic, who made a mess of playing from the back.
His team held out as Slot’s men poured in, but by the twenty-third minute, they were tied, and it could not have been easier to equalise.
With a left-wing free kick, Trent Alexander-Arnold sprang high, found Konate, and headed home unopposed. All of a sudden, Slot’s team was back in the groove, producing that incredible three-game season opener.
When he ought to have at least tested Maignan, Diogo Jota tore into the box and blasted a right footer wide.
Mohamed Salah struck the woodwork reflexively, and then, a little unbalanced, he cracked off the bar-post junction again.
Reds retaliate
Seven-time Champions League winners Liverpool faced six, but it was the Reds who were regaining their rhythm and, most importantly, their confidence.
Jota moved away to look for Salah. This time, Anfield’s Egyptian King displayed even more grandeur, causing Maignan to tremble. However, Tsimikas cut the corner in from the right, and Van Dijk nodded in to give Liverpool the lead at 41 minutes.
It would have been three just before the half if Maignan hadn’t deftly blocked a legitimate shot from Gakpo.
As Jota closed in for the kill, Frenchman Maignan was forced off following a rough collision with Tomori.
Liverpool had 23 efforts in the end, 11 of which were on goal and two of which went against the crossbar.
To further emphasise their dominance, Szoboszlai added a smooth finish in the 67th minute to the triumph that was ultimately about true style, whether it be Slot’s or not.