Liverpool outclassed AC Milan to open their Champions League account in fashion on Tuesday night time, with a lot to admire from the Reds.
Arne Slot‘s aspect recovered from conceding an early purpose to win 3-1 on the San Siro, due to objectives from Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Right here’s how the media assessed Liverpool’s victory, as they bounced again from final weekend’s horror present in opposition to Nottingham Forest.
The proper method for Liverpool’s European marketing campaign to start out…
The Every day Mail‘s Lewis Steele felt it was a stunning forty sixth birthday current for Slot, on what was an enormous night time for him:
“Because the clock ticked in direction of 11pm native time in Milan, Arne Slot may lastly sit again, loosen up and revel in his forty sixth birthday. After just a few days stressing over whether or not his group may proper the wrongs of a dismal defeat on Saturday, the Liverpool head coach was lastly gifted a gift.
“It got here within the type of three factors to start out the Champions League marketing campaign, in certainly one of world sport’s most grand arenas on the coliseum-like San Siro. So far as a welcome to European soccer with Liverpool goes, this was a baptism of fireplace for Slot.
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“With this Liverpool’s first Champions League recreation for 18 months, they had been again at Europe’s high desk – and Slot wanted to indicate he belonged right here too. Did he do this? Completely.”
On Twitter, David Lynch lauded a largely imperious efficiency:
“A shaky first 10 minutes apart, that was totally dominant from Liverpool, an excellent response to the Nottingham Forest setback.
“Additionally helpful for Arne Slot to each make an encouraging begin within the Champions League and present his group can do it even once they fall behind.”
Tom Victor of the Mirror was impressed with the style during which Liverpool didn’t panic after going behind:
“Liverpool appeared to deal with Pulisic’s opener as an affront, responding by battering down the door to their opponents’ purpose. They’d scored twice by the break, nevertheless it simply may have been extra.
“Slot refused to make excuses for the weekend reverse, however one other purpose in opposition to his group may have been an actual take a look at of their mentality.
“There will probably be different events the place they’re caught on the break, however by responding so decisively within the first half on the San Siro they confirmed a resilience that ought to please the boss.”
Miguel Delaney of the Impartial liked what he noticed from Liverpool in an attacking sense:
“They used this nice soccer area to show many extra parts to their assault, whereas exhibiting a resolve in a method that’s maybe essential early on on this new regime.
“Even past what a second successive defeat may need accomplished for Slot, a second recreation the place they struggled when going behind would have been even worse.
“Liverpool as a substitute gave possibly their greatest show to date.”
The Guardian‘s Jonathan Liew even managed to attract just a few comparisons with Istanbul for previous occasions’ sake:
“A stirring comeback in opposition to Milan: say what you want about Arne Slot, however at the least he is aware of his historical past.
“Two minutes into this recreation, maybe the primary real inflection level of the brand new Liverpool period: defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, adopted by an early purpose for Christian Pulisic that put Milan 1-0 up.
“So, how are your nerves?
“Fairly stable, because it turned out. Abetted by some shambolic Milan defending, Liverpool spent the following 88 minutes methodically taking the seven-time champions aside on their very own turf: not at all times fluently, and never at all times clinically, however with an encouraging directness and above all an instinctive calm.”
There have been sure people who stood out…
In his participant rankings for the Echo, Paul Gorst heaped reward on Cody Gakpo, who was arguably Liverpool’s liveliest participant:
“Regarded threatening each time he had the ball and was too sturdy and highly effective for Milan at occasions along with his operating and dribbling.
“Had just a few photographs that labored Maignan within the first half and low cross nearly introduced a purpose from Salah.
“Good run arrange Szoboszlai for the third.”
Josh Williams singed out Ryan Gravenberch, with the Dutchman once more catching the attention in his deep-lying midfield position:
We’re going to wish a Gravenberch comp after this. He’s been studying Milan performs for enjoyable right here.
— Josh Williams (@DistanceCovered) September 17, 2024
He could not have scored or assisted, however Victor loved one other hungry exhibiting from Mohamed Salah:
“Mohamed Salah has come into the brand new season like a person with a degree to show. Three objectives within the first three league video games had been testomony to that, and he did all the things however rating within the first 45 minutes in Milan.
“A tiny bit extra accuracy with both of the photographs the Egyptian crashed in opposition to the woodwork may need made Liverpool’s activity simpler. The venom of the efforts was encouraging, although, and there’s no suggestion the clean in opposition to Nottingham Forest has slowed him down.
“Liverpool’s subsequent match is in opposition to Bournemouth, a group in opposition to whom Salah has scored 9 occasions in 9 league conferences.
“You wouldn’t put it previous him to make it 10 in 10.”
