A good, encouraging start, but that was it. Milan’s debut in the new, extended Champions League on Tuesday night lasted only five minutes as the Rossoneri basically vanished after taking the lead against Liverpool with Christian Pulisic.
Arne Slot’s Reds were quick to react and stormed back in the first half already, as headers from Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil Van Dijk brought the visitors ahead. Dominik Szoboszlai set the score at 3-1 in the second period, with Milan struggling to build up their play and at risk of being caught on the counter every time they lost the ball.
It was a far from encouraging performance for Paulo Fonseca’s Rossoneri, who are about to face an even more challenging test on Sunday – the Derby di Milano against Inter. They will likely miss their starting goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who left the pitch injured tonight.
And still, it looked like it was going to be such a good night for the Rossoneri faitfhuls: Three minutes into the game, Pulisic set the San Siro on fire with a fantastic progression on the right flank, after exchanging the ball with Alvaro Morata. The American ended his run with a clinical shot into the far corner past Alisson Becker, opening Milan’s Champions League scoring account.
That was a short illusion, though. Moh Salah was quick to show that, at 32, he can still be deadly dangerous with a terrific right foot shot that made Maignan’s crossbar rattle. From then on, the Reds were in full control and the Rossoneri‘s French goalie was literally bombarded.
Liverpool’s equalizer was an inevitable conclusion, which came on 23 minutes. It was Ibrahima Koné to head the ball home from a Gakpo set piece as Mike Maignan’s clearance attempt appeared bad timed. Maignan quickly redeemed himself though, defending on Diogo Jota just three minutes later and forcing him into shooting off target.
Gakpo’s shot from a wide angle forced Maignan into yet another save, then Salah pounced on the rebound but hit the woodwork again, only for the ball to bounce right on the Rossoneri shot-stopper.
A few minutes later, Milan were caught on the counter as Diogo Jota served Salah, his shot was palmed away and deflected into corner again by Maignan. From the subsequent set piece, Liverpool deservedly completed their comeback. This time, Magic Mike couldn’t do anything as captain Van Dijk towered above a bad positioned Rossoneri defense from point blank range and whipped the ball home.
The last chance for Liverpool before the break resulted in yet another Maignan save from Gakpo’s attempt.
The second half brought more problems for Paulo Fonseca’s side, who ultimately lost their starting goalkeeper when Maignan picked up a knee cut in a desperate attempt to block Diogo Jota’s incursion in the box on 51 minutes. He was replaced by 19-year-old Lorenzo Torriani.
The young shot-stopper showed enough confidence and composure in his maiden game, but could not prevent Liverpool for making it three on 67 minutes, when Gakpo triggered another counterattack and served Szoboszlai an easy chance to tap the ball in at the far post.
Having built a comfortable two-goal cushion, Arne Slot’s side pulled the brakes and switched to cruise control mode. Never did Milan give the impression that they could re-open the match as their only real shooting opportunity was gift-wrapped by Alisson, but substitute Tammy Abraham couldn’t find the target after intercepting the Brazilian goalie’s sloppy build-up attempt.
The Rossoneri showed a concerning lack of personality and grit. Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez, their two most representative players, were inexistent in the first half, and only slowly started to wake up towards the end of the game. Leao’s only shot on target came on 96 minutes, but was pushed back by Alisson’s crossbar. That’s too little from Milan’s supposed star player.
At full time, the San Siro crowd were not happy and made themselves heard. The Champions League extended format will offer many chances to turn things around, but things need to change fast at Milanello.
MATCH SCORECARD
September 17, 2024 – Champions League 2023/2024 First Round
MILAN – LIVERPOOL 1-3
SCORERS: 3′ Pulisic (M), 23′ Konaté (L), 41′ Van Dijk (L), 67′ Szoboszlai (L)
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MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan (51′ Torriani); Calabria (69′ Emerson Royal), Tomori (84′ Gabbia), Pavlovic, T. Hernandez; Fofana, Loftus-Cheek (69′ Abraham); Pulisic, Reijnders, Rafael Leao; Morata (84′ Okafor) (Nava, Zeroli, Chukwueze, Bartesaghi, Terracciano, Musah) Coach: Fonseca |
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LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold (79′ Gomez), Konaté, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister (93′ Endo); Salah (93′ Chiesa), Szoboszlai, Gakpo (68′ Luis Diaz); Diogo Jota (68′ D. Nunez) (Kelleher, Jaros, Jones, Robertson, Quansah, Morton, Bradley) Coach: Slot |
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Calabria, Fofana, Fonseca (M), Mac Allister, Konaté (L); Added Time: 1st Half 5′, 2nd Half 6′