Trailing after less than three minutes of play, Liverpool did not panic and won 3-1 on the pitch of AC Milan thanks in particular to two almost identical headed goals, Tuesday in the Champions League.
Presented as one of the posters of the first day of the new C1 formula, the clash between the Rossoneri and the Reds, thirteen C1 titles between them, kept all its promises, with four goals and twists, before being marked by the exit through injury of the goalkeeper of the French team Mike Maignan.
AC Milan had started the match ideally by opening the scoring on their first move thanks to Christian Pulisic who outpaced the English defence to beat Alisson with a cross-shot (3rd).
But Paulo Fonseca’s players, who picked up their first win of the season last Saturday, quickly lost control of the ball and allowed the Reds to regain the upper hand.
In the 17th minute, Mohamed Salah, who was very discreet during Liverpool’s defeat at home against Nottingham Forest (1-0) on Saturday, hit Mike Maignan’s crossbar.
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 1 football match between AC Milan and Liverpool FC at the San Siro stadium in Milan on September 17, 2024. / PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP
Although he was very lucky with this move, the Blues goalkeeper made a mistake shortly afterwards which cost his team dearly: on a free kick in the form of a mini-corner, he was beaten by his compatriot Ibrahima Konaté who put the two teams back to back with a header (23rd).
San Siro whistles its team
AC Milan, unable to get their foot on the ball, scored the coup. Three minutes after Liverpool equalised, Diogo Jota, unmarked in the penalty area, narrowly missed the target.
It was then Salah who, in the 30th minute, once again found Maignan’s crossbar with a ball that was pushed back with difficulty by the French goalkeeper after a shot from Cody Gakpo.
The Egyptian striker once again made the Milan fans shudder with a low shot deflected by Maignan (40th).
On the following corner, the Milan goalkeeper, stuck on his line, was beaten by Virgil van Dijk who, with a header, logically gave Liverpool the advantage.
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan injured in the knee after a collision with Diogo Jota on September 17, 2024 in San Siro / PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP
Maignan’s bad evening was not yet over: shortly after returning from the locker room, he was violently hit by Jota and had to leave his teammates because of a big bruise on his right thigh.
In the absence of his usual understudy, Marco Sportiello, who is injured, he was replaced by the young reserve team goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani (19 years old).
On his first-team debut, Torriani was left helpless when Dominik Szoboszlai found himself alone at the far post (67th) to add a third goal.
“The second goal changed the game and affected us morally. We made too many mistakes. Against a team of this level, it is unforgiving, but we have to recognize that Liverpool are at the moment a better team than us.”Fonseca admitted to Sky Sport.
“We must continue to work so that we play as a team not for twenty minutes but for 90 minutes”he insisted.
“It’s the kind of match that gives you confidence, because conceding a goal on the first move in such a stadium can hurt and we knew how to react.”Liverpool coach Arne Slot said.
If Liverpool have sent a strong message to the competition, AC Milan is already on the brink of a new crisis.
San Siro booed his team at the final whistle and Fonseca, who succeeded Stefano Pioli in June, will likely have a big stake in Sunday’s league derby against Inter.
