Liverpool kicked off their Champions League campaign with a 3-1 win at AC Milan on Tuesday in what was their first match in Europe’s premier competition for 18 months. Goals from Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai sealed the points after Christian Pulisic’s third-minute opener.
The ECHO was at San Siro to provide its usual mix of player ratings, match verdict and analysis while our colleagues within the national media were also present to give their considered takes.
And here’s how they reported on what was a major win for Arne Slot in his first game in Europe as the Reds’ head coach.
Miguel Delaney of The Independent wrote: “The concern here for Slot might have been more psychological than tactical, as the goal could have allowed doubts to build. None were evident. Liverpool immediately began constructing attacks in the way the manager would idealise. There was some fine passing build-up play, with the resurgent Cody Gakpo then repeatedly breaking the lines.
“That points to another growing but noticeable element of Slot’s time so far. His Dutch players have all enjoyed leaps in form. Just behind Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch has looked a totally different player. He was here commanding midfield and so often cutting out those Milan breaks, before helping to build moves.
“The only surprise was that the goals came from set-pieces rather than that sort of surging play, but then maybe ‘surprise’ is overstating it given how poor Milan were in such situations. Ange Postecoglou could reasonably look at this match and wonder why the same fuss isn’t made about this great Italian club with such defending.”
The Daily Mail’s Lewis Steele scribes: “As the clock ticked towards 11pm local time in Milan, Arne Slot could finally sit back, relax and enjoy his 46th birthday. After a few days stressing over whether his team could right the wrongs of a dismal defeat on Saturday, the Liverpool head coach was finally gifted a present.
“It came in the form of three points to start the Champions League campaign, in one of world sport’s most grand arenas at the coliseum-like San Siro. As far as a welcome to European football with Liverpool goes, this was a baptism of fire for Slot.
“For the first 20 minutes, it felt like his team were going to melt in the cauldron of noise and succumb to pressure. But goals from both centre-halves, Ibrahima Konate and captain Virgil van Dijk, gave Slot the perfect end to his birthday as they came from behind to topple AC Milan.
“Dominik Szoboszlai added a third on 67 minutes to put the game to bed after some wasteful finishing before it and then Slot finally cut a more relaxed figure. Given the calm nature of the Dutchman, he had spent the first hour or so here pacing his technical area with anxiety.
“Evidently, he felt he had a point to prove. With this Liverpool’s first Champions League game for 18 months, they were back at Europe’s top table – and Slot needed to show he belonged here too. Did he do that? Absolutely.”
Jonathan Liew of The Guardian: “A stirring comeback against Milan: say what you like about Arne Slot, but at least he knows his history. Two minutes into this game, perhaps the first genuine inflection point of the new Liverpool era: defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, followed by an early goal for Christian Pulisic that put Milan 1-0 up. So, how are your nerves?
“Pretty solid, as it turned out. Abetted by some shambolic Milan defending, Liverpool spent the next 88 minutes methodically taking the seven-time champions apart on their own turf: not always fluently, and not always clinically, but with an encouraging directness and above all an instinctive calm.
“Liverpool were happy to have the ball. They were happy not to have the ball. They did not dwell on their missed chances but simply created more. And, of course, it helps when your opponents have the structural integrity of a puri, allowing Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk free set-piece headers to put Liverpool in front.
“Dominik Szoboszlai completed the scoring in the second half, making good on Slot’s entreaties for him to contribute more goals from midfield. But the most noteworthy performances were from Cody Gakpo on the left wing and Ryan Gravenberch in midfield. Gakpo was a total menace: unpredictable in his movement, unstoppable on the ball, cutting Milan to pieces with his driving runs.
