Liverpool marks return to Europe with a scintillating win at San Siro

Liverpool’s return to Champions League football was a remarkable one as the Reds marched on the Rossoneri with a 3-1 comeback win in Milan. 

Arne Slot’s team needed redemption after last Saturday’s unacceptable showing against Nottingham Forest at Anfield but went behind after three minutes when Christian Pulisic took advantage of some lax defending from Konstantinos Tsimikas and smashed into the far corner. 

It was becoming another worst start to the game for Liverpool, but Slot got a pleasing reaction from his side as Mohamed Salah’s effort rattled against the woodwork. 

The Reds eventually got their equalizer after several attacks in the defense of their hosts. Davide Calabria slid in on Cody Gakpo and conceded a free kick, which Trent Alexander-Arnold swept in for French defender Ibrahima Konate to head home superbly. 

It was the equalizer that spurred Liverpool to life from their slumber because more chances came more freely in the way of The Kop, one of which was the one Diogo Jota slid wide, and another was Salah’s attempt, which was denied by the crossbar. 

Liverpool’s second goal would come from another set-piece, and this time, it was a corner. The club captain. Virgil van Dijk rose to a Tsimikas corner to mark his fiftieth UEFA Champions League cap with a goal.

When the second period started, the injured Milan goalkeeper, Mike Maignan, only made it through a few minutes of the second period before he was replaced by 19-year-old Lorenzo Torriani, and the youngster couldn’t do anything to prevent Liverpool’s third goal of the night after Cody Gakpo linked up with Dominik Szobloszlai for a finish that went in off the post. 

The hosts came close to scoring on two different occasions in the final minute of the encounter, though. The first was when Tammy Abraham was unable to capitalize on a poorly hit pass from Alisson Becker, while the second saw Rafael Leao’s attempt blasted to the crossbar as Liverpool completely recovered from Saturday’s shocking loss to Forest.