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 Konaté and Virgil van Dijk free setpiece 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 perhaps the most noteworthy performances were from Cody Gakpo on the left wing and Ryan Gravenberch in the midfield. Gakpo was a total menace: unpredictable in his movement, unstoppable on the ball, cutting Milan to pieces with his forward surges.
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Denne historien er fra September 18, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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