It was a terrifying experience for Arne Slot in his first Champions League game as manager of Liverpool, but the Reds rallied admirably to overcome AC Milan at the San Siro.
Within three minutes, Milan had taken the lead thanks to a goal in the bottom corner from Christian Pulisic, who was allowed to run free. This did not startle Liverpool right away, but Mohamed Salah’s shot against the crossbar came dangerously close to an equaliser.

The equaliser did not take long to arrive for the visitors, as Ibrahima Konate beat Mike Maignan to a Trent Alexander-Arnold delivery and headed home. Konate’s defensive partner Virgil van Dijk then added to his team’s lead by putting his head into a Kostas Tsimikas corner.

Early in the second half, Milan’s luck took a turn for the worse as teenage Lorenzo Torriani was forced to play after Maignan was medically retired due to an injury. A third goal by Dominik Szoboszlai proved to be enough to end the match, and Torriani was powerless to stop it.

The Frenchman made sure he scored when it mattered, though, after going two seasons without finding the net. The Liverpool supporters won’t care if Milan keeper Maignan felt he ought to have been more bold when trying to claim a ball into the box.

Additionally, it was Trent Alexander-Arnold’s eleventh Champions League help. Even for a guy that frequently plays set pieces, it’s hardly the worst return.

Once they levelled the score, Liverpool showed no mercy. Before Van Dijk’s goal, Salah again struck the post, and in stoppage time in the first half, Cody Gakpo stung Maignan’s palms.

Short spurts of threat were made by Milan and their under-pressure manager Paulo Fonseca, with Rafael Leao making an effort down the left. Once Liverpool got going, though, they were a step or two behind their rivals, and the Premier League team may have even scored more.

For a little moment, it appeared as though Milan would spoil Slot’s 46th birthday, but those concerns were soon allayed. The talking topics from a hectic Champions League opener are provided by Mirror Football.

1. Konate’s timing was impeccable
The last time Ibrahima Konate scored a goal for Liverpool was in the spring of 2022. That day’s opponents were Manchester City, who the Reds defeated 3-2 in an FA Cup semifinal.

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

The Frenchman made sure he scored when it mattered, though, after going two seasons without finding the net. The Liverpool supporters won’t care if Milan keeper Maignan felt he ought to have been more bold when trying to claim a ball into the box.

Additionally, it was Trent Alexander-Arnold’s eleventh Champions League help. Even for a guy that frequently plays set pieces, it’s hardly the worst return.

 

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 seemed to take offence after Pulisic’s first goal, smashing down the door to their opponent’s goal in return. By halftime, they had already scored twice, but there was still room for more.

Slot declined to offer explanations for the loss over the weekend, but a second goal against his group might have truly tested their resolve. They’ll be caught off guard on other occasions, but their strong first-half response at the San Siro demonstrated a tenacity that the manager should be pleased with.

3. Additional queries for Tsimikas
Kostas Tsimikas had a terrible season the previous year as Atalanta eliminated Liverpool from the Europa League, and the Greek international faced even greater difficulties while facing Italian opponents. When Pulisic made his first-ever run onto the ball, Liverpool’s left-back, who was supposed to be monitoring his immediate 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

 

Arne Slot had a happy birthday. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

Paulo Fonseca, the Milan manager, hasn’t been met with the same positivity as Arne Slot, who has had an immediate impact at Liverpool. Although he relieved some of the early pressure with a 4-0 victory over Venezia last time out, the former Lille manager lost all three of his Serie A matches.

The Rossoneri have yet another issue with Maignan’s injury. Despite his struggles in the first half, the Frenchman attempted to continue, but was substituted off early in the second half. In the event that the manager is able to turn things around, rookie Torriani may end up playing a significant role. Backup Marco Sportiello is also out.

Fonseca would have dearly loved for this weekend’s Serie A match to be an easy one on paper following the convincing victory over Venezia. Nevertheless, with a derby against Inter awaiting his club, he has nowhere to run to.