Arne Slot endured a fright during his inaugural Champions League match as Liverpool manager; however, the Reds responded magnificently by coming from behind to defeat AC Milan at the San Siro.

Christian Pulisic was permitted to advance unimpeded before scoring in the bottom corner, allowing Milan to take the lead within three minutes. Liverpool was not immediately jarred into action by this, but they nearly achieved an equaliser when Mohamed Salah fired against the underside of the bar.

The visitors were not required to wait for an extended period of time for the equaliser, as Ibrahima Konate outpaced Mike Maignan to a Trent Alexander-Arnold delivery and returned home. Subsequently, Virgil van Dijk, Konate’s defensive companion, contributed to Slot’s team’s lead by contributing his head to a Kostas Tsimikas corner.

Milan’s fortunes took a turn for the worse in the early stages of the second half when Maignan was medically retired due to an injury and adolescent Lorenzo Torriani was compelled to participate. Torriani was unable to prevent Dominik Szoboszlai from scoring a third goal, which was sufficient to end the contest.

After two seasons without finding the net, though, the Frenchman made sure he scored when it mattered. Milan keeper Maignan might feel he should have been more assertive when attempting to claim a ball into the box, but those in Liverpool colours won’t mind.

It was also Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 11th Champions League assist. Not the worst return, even for a player who regularly finds himself on set-piece duty.

 

From the moment they equalised, Liverpool took no mercy. Salah struck the woodwork for a second time before Van Dijk’s goal, while Cody Gakpo stung Maignan’s palms in first-half stoppage-time.

Milan and their under-pressure manager Paulo Fonseca threatened in short bursts, with Rafael Leao doing what he could down the left. They were a level or two behind their opponents once Liverpool found their feet, though, and the Premier League side could even have scored more.

 

It had briefly looked as though Milan would ruin Slot’s 46th birthday, but those worries were quickly put to bed. Here are Mirror Football ‘s talking points from a busy Champions League opener.

1. Perfect timing from Konate

You have to go back to the spring of 2022 for the last time Ibrahima Konate scored a goal for Liverpool. Manchester City were the opponents that day, with the Reds winning 3-2 in an FA Cup semi-final.

 

Ibrahima Konate celebrating his goal for Liverpool against AC Milan ( Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

After two seasons without finding the net, though, the Frenchman made sure he scored when it mattered. Milan keeper Maignan might feel he should have been more assertive when attempting to claim a ball into the box, but those in Liverpool colours won’t mind.

It was also Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 11th Champions League assist. Not the worst return, even for a player who regularly finds himself on set-piece duty.

 

2. Forest repeat avoided

Callum Hudson-Odoi’s goal for Nottingham Forest appeared to catch Liverpool unawares on Saturday, with Slot’s ream unable to respond. In Milan, though, there were no such problems.

 

Virgil van Dijk celebrating his goal in Milan ( Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool appeared to treat Pulisic’s opener as an affront, responding by battering down the door to their opponents’ goal. They’d scored twice by the break, but it easily could have been more.

Slot refused to make excuses for the weekend reverse, but another goal against his team could have been a real test of their mentality. There will be other occasions where they’re caught on the break, but by responding so decisively in the first half at the San Siro they showed a resilience that should please the boss.

3. More questions for Tsimikas

Kostas Tsimikas had a nightmare last season as Liverpool were eliminated from the Europa League by Atalanta, and there were more woes for the Greek international against Italian opposition. As Pulisic ran onto the ball for his opener, Liverpool’s left-back – who should have been keeping tabs on his direct opponent – was nowhere to be seen.

 

Christian Pulisic opened the scoring inside three minutes ( Image: AC Milan via Getty Images)

Tsimikas has often looked better going forward than he has defensively, but there was a point in his Liverpool career where he looked to be growing into the kind of player who could contribute positively on a regular basis. Instead, though, he has begun going backwards.

That attacking contribution came in the form of an assist for Van Dijk. However,with Andy Robertson set to turn 31 before the end of the season, there was surely a hope Tsimikas would already be a reliable option at both ends of the pitch.

4. Salah a man on a mission

Mohamed Salah has come into the new season like a man with a point to prove. Three goals in the first three league games were testament to that, and he did everything but score in the first 45 minutes in Milan.

 

Mohamed Salah was desperately close to a first-half goal ( Image: AFP via Getty Images)Don’t Miss

A tiny bit more accuracy with either of the shots the Egyptian crashed against the woodwork might have made Liverpool’s task easier. The venom of the efforts was encouraging, though, and there’s no suggestion the blank against Nottingham Forest has slowed him down.

Liverpool’s next match is against Bournemouth, a team against whom Salah has scored nine times in nine league meetings. You wouldn’t put it past him to make it 10 in 10.

5. Huge difference between two new bosses

 

It was a happy birthday for Arne Slot ( Image: Getty Images)

While Arne Slot has made an instant impact at Liverpool, there hasn’t been the same positivity around Milan boss Paulo Fonseca. The former Lille boss won none of his first three Serie A games, though he eased some of the early pressure with a 4-0 victory over Venezia last time out.

Maignan’s injury is yet another problem for the Rossoneri. The Frenchman was struggling in the first half but tried to carry on, only to be forced off early in the second. With backup Marco Sportiello also sidelined, rookie Torriani could end up having a big part to play in the manager’s ability to turn things around.

After the comfortable win against Venezia Fonseca would have sorely loved for this weekend’s Serie A game to be a straightforward one on paper. Instead, though, he has nowhere to hide with a derby against Inter awaiting his team.