AC Milan 1-3 Liverpool: Analysing The Reds’ Comeback

This was a game that demanded a good result and reaction from a Liverpool side which lost so disappointingly at the weekend. The start was far from perfect; however, the overall picture was close to superb and exactly the response that was needed.

Below is how the team lined up, with match details following.

LFC Starting Eleven

GK – Alisson Becker

RB – Trent Alexander Arnold

RCB – Ibrahima Konaté

LCB – Virgil van Dijk (c)

LB – Kostas Tsimikas

CM – Alexis Mac Allister

ACM – Dominik Szoboszlai

CM – Ryan Gravenberch

RF – Mohamed Salah

CF – Diogo Jota

LF – Cody Gakpo

Subs

Luis Díaz – Cody Gakpo (68 mins)

Darwin Núñez – Diogo Jota (68 mins)

Joe Gomez – Trent Alexander Arnold (78 mins)

Federico Chiesa – Mohamed Salah (90+2 mins)

Wataru Endō – Alexis Mac Allister (90+2 mins)

https://twitter.com/anfieldindex/status/1836154696525861026?s=46&t=rxgukmqdoXc4muVFLSx2EQ

Goals (Assisted by)

AC Milan 1 – 0 Liverpool:

Christian Pulisic (Alvaro Morata) – 3 mins

AC Milan 1 – 1 Liverpool:

Ibrahima Konaté (Trent Alexander Arnold) – 23 mins

AC Milan 1 – 2 Liverpool:

Virgil van Dijk (Kostas Tsimikas) – 41 mins

AC Milan 1 – 3 Liverpool:

Dominik Szoboszlai (Cody Gakpo) – 67 mins

Important Match Stats

Possession

AC Milan 00% – 00% Liverpool

Total Shots

AC Milan 8 – 24 Liverpool

Crosses

AC Milan 9 – 15 Liverpool

Corner Kicks 

AC Milan 2 – 5 Liverpool

Goalkeeper Saves

AC Milan 9 – 1 Liverpool

First Half

The opening period of this game was a disaster in transition, as Kostas Tsimikas failed to win the ball up high, which allowed a penetrating overload for the opening goal by Christian Pulisic. The former Chelsea forward hit a fine strike which soared past Alisson Becker and into the far corner, with the worry from the traveling support evident within moments of the kick off.

Despite the horrendous start by the visitors, control and calm was shown by the reds and eventually good attacking play was rewarded by a towering header from the Frenchman, Ibrahima Konaté.

After Cody Gakpo was fouled on the byline, a well flighted free kick was delivered by the impressive Trent Alexander Arnold, for the giant defender, Ibou, to head home from close range. Mohamed Salah struck the bar twice and Diogo Jota shot wide from a superb chance, when he really should have squared to one of several teammates. Domination and tempo were very much in the favour of the illustrious men in red, as Tsimikas was eventually able to make amends by delivering a perfect corner for his captain, Virgil van Dijk, to head home with aplomb.

Cody Gakpo was impressive in that half as well as the entire midfield group, with the fight back and subsequent turnaround a tremendous sight to view.

https://twitter.com/benbocsak/status/1836153044234321929?s=46&t=rxgukmqdoXc4muVFLSx2EQ

Second Half

On resumption of the second half, no changes were made as the Liverpool Head Coach sent out the same eleven men which had fought back from a goal behind. The game started to open and on 67-minutes, as the Dutch left forward, Cody Gakpo, was able to drive the length of the opposing half, before finding Dominik Szoboszlai centrally to slot home.

The new scoreline margin allowed the Liverpool Head Coach, Arne Slot, to make smart changes and bring fresh bodies into the game. Control and consistency in the defensive and midfield lines was apparent for the entirety of the half, as Milan struggled to gain any momentum. Game management and superiority was shown by a Liverpool side that simply looked on another level to their hosts.

The game had ended with that third Liverpool strike and the Champions League game week one was successfully completed, with only a brief and early moment of fuss.

Final Thoughts

This was a game that will hopefully vanquish the 0-1 loss against Nottingham Forest at the weekend. Momentum and rhythm remain key components of this talented squad of players and the ability to rise from an early goal down showed great character from all the players, as well as the man in charge.

The midfield trio of Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Dominik Szoboszlai, showed brilliant power and ability tonight and though the last Premier League outing was an horrific dampener, this game was a sign of what could come for the six-time European Champions.

Steven Smith Pre-match Prediction:

AC Milan 1 – 1 Liverpool