This morning, Liverpool kicked off their Champions League campaign with an away match against AC Milan.
Coach Arne Slot’s team traveled to Milan with a less-than-ideal spirit, having just lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. To secure a positive result against the tough Italian side, the Dutch coach made some adjustments to the starting lineup. Luis Diaz was rested, allowing Cody Gakpo to start, and Kostas Tsimikas made his first start of the season in place of Andy Robertson.
Despite the changes, key players Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah, and Diogo Jota retained their spots in the lineup, while the midfield duo remained Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch. Liverpool started cautiously but conceded a goal early in the 3rd minute to Christian Pulisic.
However, Slot’s side calmly regained control and gradually created threats on the home goal. They equalized in the 23rd minute through Ibrahima Konate, followed by two more goals from Virgil van Dijk and Szoboszlai.
With a 3-1 victory over Milan, Liverpool had a perfect start to their Champions League campaign under Slot. This win also helped restore their confidence after the loss to Nottingham, setting them up for their upcoming match against Bournemouth this Sunday.
Here are three standout players from the away side this morning:
Virgil van Dijk
Wearing the captain’s armband, Van Dijk had an impressive performance both defensively and offensively. The Dutch international effectively commanded the defense, neutralizing the home team’s forward duo of Tammy Abraham and Alvaro Morata. He also scored with a precise header just before halftime, giving Liverpool a 2-1 lead.
Alexis Mac Allister
Statistics show that Liverpool had only 51% possession but managed to take 23 shots, largely due to Mac Allister’s impressive playmaking and sharp passes. The World Cup champion’s skill is exactly what Liverpool needs to advance deep into the Champions League.
Dominik Szoboszlai
Putting aside a disappointing performance last weekend, Szoboszlai excelled in today’s match against AC Milan. The Hungarian international was active throughout, making intelligent runs and ultimately scoring in the 67th minute to seal the 3-1 victory for Liverpool.