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:
SAVED! Maignan stops Salah’s penalty
Liverpool 1 - 0 AC Milan
14 mins: Liverpool are denied a second goal as Mo Salah drills the spot kick down the middle. Maignan holds his ground and palms the ball away. Jota follows it up and meets the ball with a diving header. Maignan scrambles across to the near post and jumps up just in time to block that effort as well! Fantastic goalkeeping.
Penalty to Liverpool!
Liverpool 1 - 0 AC Milan
12 mins: That goal hasn’t calmed things. Liverpool have continued to attack, whipping crosses and corners into the box. Robertson brings the ball down on the left side of the penalty area and blasts one at goal only for Ismael Bennacer to block the chance with his left hand!
He picks up a yellow card and Liverpool have a penalty! What a start this is!
GOAL! Liverpool 1 - 0 AC Milan (Alexander-Arnold, 9’)⚽️
9 mins: There it is! There’s only been nine minutes but this goal has been coming. Trent Alexander-Arnold brings the ball down the right side and plays a one-two with Salah to get around Rafael Leao. He collects the return pass, sprints into the box and shoots. His effort deflects off a sliding Fikayo Tomori and loops of Maignan to finish in the back of the net.
Liverpool 0 - 0 AC Milan
8 mins: AC Milan are determined to play out from the back but it’s not working. Liverpool’s press is too good. Origi nicks the ball of Hernandez high on the right side but his ball into the box for Jota is sent behind by a back tracking Simon Kjaer.
Alexander-Arnold takes the corner, it’s Liverpool’s fourth already, he sends it deeper this time and finds Joel Matip. The defender gets a good chunk of the ball with his header but sends it straight into the hands of goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Liverpool 0 - 0 AC Milan
7 mins: Chance! Franck Kessie gives the ball away as Robertson flies forward to intercept an aerial pass. He carries it into the left side of the box before cutting the ball back to Diogo Jota. Jota takes a touch and shoots but the strike deflects off Kjaer and goes wide. This is a crazy start from Liverpool.
Liverpool 0 - 0 AC Milan
5 mins: Close! The corner from Trent Alexander-Arnold is cleared but Liverpool regain possession and sweep forward again down the left. Robertson has taken up a high position on that wing and when the ball comes to him he drives into the box. Origi and Salah are up with him as a low pass is squared across the penalty area. Origi gets a foot to it but the effort goes wide of the far post!
Liverpool 0 - 0 AC Milan
3 mins: Quick start from Liverpool who work the ball into the box from the left. Origi keeps it alive before Andy Robertson swings a cross in towards Salah. Theo Hernandez squeezes in front of the winger and heads the ball out for a corner.
Liverpool 0 - 0 AC Milan
Kick off: Mo Salah gets the game started and Joel Matip hits one long over to the left wing. Divock Origi wins the initial header and finds Diogo Jota. Jota tries to return the pass but Origi can’t collect it and Alexis Saelemaekers clears with the help of Simon Kjaer.
Here come the teams
Anfield is buzzing as ‘You’ll never walk alone’ plays through the stadium speakers.
The teams head out onto the pitch, Liverpool led by Jordan Henderson. The Champions League music plays, the flags are waved, European football is back at Anfield.
Kick off is next.
In form Milan
AC Milan come into tonight’s game as one of three Italian sides still with a 100% record in Serie A after three games.
Former Chelsea and Arsenal striker, Olivier Giroud, has two goals in two games, with young Portuguese forward Rafael Leao also chipping in with a couple.
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