Liverpool overcome poor start to beat Milan in style

Another first for Arne Slot at Liverpool, and one that was much more significant than a debut win in this new Champions League.

- MIGUEL DELANEY

AC Milan Pulisic (3) 1

Liverpool Konate (23), Van Dijk (41), Szoboszlai (67) 3

This emphatic 3-1 victory over Milan was the first time his team have come from behind.

That is more impressive and important than it sounds, given the concerns that could have been allowed to spread from Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, and then Christian Pulisic scoring within three minutes of this Champions League season starting. Rather than new concerns, though, Liverpool just gave themselves new confidence.

They used this great football arena to display many more elements to their attack, while showing a resolve in a way that is perhaps important early on in this new regime. Even beyond what a second successive defeat might have done for Slot, a second game where they struggled when going behind would have been even worse.

Liverpool instead gave maybe their best display so far. That’s even in the context of how disappointing Milan were. You could see why Paulo Fonseca is under such pressure, not least for the side’s apparent negligence at set-pieces. The team were loudly whistled off at the end.

You could also see how Slot himself solves problems as games go on. There were about four minutes when it looked like Saturday’s setback could develop into a more serious problem. Just like Nottingham Forest late in that game, Milan were shredding Liverpool with pace early in this one.