Liverpool vs AC Milan LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction tonight
Two giants of European history met for a first ever competitive encounter outside of a final
The Champions League continued tonight and Premier League side Liverpool started their group campaign with a thrilling 3-2 home win againstAC Milan.
Despite the two clubs being among the most successful handful of teams in European Cup history, they had only ever met twice in competitive games – the 2005 and 2007 Champions League finals. This occasion, then, was set to be a rather different one and a first visit for the Serie A giants to Anfield. Neither one had lost a match yet this term, with Jurgen Klopp’s Reds in the group level on points at the top of the Premier League and the Rossoneri similarly positioned in Italy’s top flight.
That changed this evening, however, with Liverpool edging an enthralling encounter. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s deflected shot put the hosts ahead, before Mohamed Salah’s penalty was saved. Still, the Reds were rampant, yet Milan netted twice in quick succession against the run of play to head into the break with a 2-1 lead – Brahim Diaz and Ante Rebic the goalscorers. Salah put away a dinked pass from Divock Origi, though, to equalise early in the second half, before Jordan Henderson’s drilled half-volley restored Liverpool’s lead – which they retained until the full-time whistle.
Relive updates of the Champions League Group B encounter between Liverpool and AC Milan below:
GOAL! Liverpool 1 - 2 AC Milan (Diaz, 44’)⚽️
44 mins: Huge turnaround! Leao drives the ball into the box before slipping it to Rebic. He squares it into the middle where Hernandez meets it on the volley. He whacks it at goal but Robertson blocks it on the line. The rebound comes out to Diaz who taps it into the open net and now AC Milan have the lead! Unbelievable.
GOAL! Liverpool 1 - 1 AC Milan (Rebic, 42’)⚽️
42 mins: Where has this come from?! Brahim Diaz is allowed time on the ball in midfield and he turns it towards goal before sending a pass into Kessie. He dinks it to Leao who slots the ball into the box where Ante Rebic arrives to fire the ball past Alisson and give Milan an equaliser!
Liverpool 1 - 0 AC Milan
38 mins: Salah underhits a pass into Origi which allows Tomori to nip in and win the ball. He gets there first but leaves a bit too much on Origi with the follow through. The striker goes down clutching his leg and there’s a break in play while he recovers.
Liverpool 1 - 0 AC Milan
35 mins: Liverpool win back-to-back corners but nothing comes of them as Milan solidly defend the crosses into the box. The reds have had eight corners in this half. It’s a testament to Milan that they’re only one goal down.
Alexander-Arnold is brought down over to the right side of the Milan box. Robertson curls the set piece into the middle, the ball comes over to Jota but Calabria beats him in the air and heads the ball away.
Liverpool 1 - 0 AC Milan
32 mins: We’ve got a game on at Anfield. No sooner have Milan penetrated Liverpool’s penalty area that they’re being countered by the Reds. Four or five Liverpool players sprint forward as Keita drives the ball up the pitch. He gives it to Henderson who finds Salah just inside the box. Salah stops the ball dead then clips a shot at goal forcing Maignan to parry it over the crossbar!
Liverpool 1 - 0 AC Milan
29 mins: Here we go! Milan respond with a ball over the top and a run down the left from Rafael Leao. He takes control of the ball and fires a cross into Saelemaekers. The midfielder squares a pass into the arriving Theo Hernandez but his shot from the front edge of the box is blocked by Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool 1 - 0 AC Milan
26 mins: The game finally seems to be settling down. There was no way Liverpool could maintain that tempo. It was non-stop attack for 20 minutes.
Milan take over possession and string together a few passes around their defence. They aren’t going very far and a long ball up the pitch is dealt with by Joe Gomez.
Liverpool 1 - 0 AC Milan
23 mins: Henderson plays the ball into the feet of Salah as Keita makes a run into the box off the ball. Salah spots him and sends it into the area. Keita is beaten to ball by Kjaer who clears before colliding with the Liverpool midfielder and winning a free kick.
Liverpool 1 - 0 AC Milan
20 mins: Kessie sends the ball out for yet another Liverpool corner. Alexander-Arnold knocks it short to Salah who lays it off to Naby Keita. He curls it into the middle but Milan work it clear. Robertson collects and fires his cross deep into the box. Once more the ball comes to Keita and this time his finds Matip at the back post. The defender rises clear of everyone and heads the ball straight at Maignan who clings onto it.
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