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:
Liverpool vs AC Milan referee: Szymon Marciniak to officiate Champions League match
Polish referee Szymon Marciniak will officiate Liverpool’s Champions League fixture against AC Milan tonight.
The 40-year-old is a regular official in the Ekstraklasa and took charge of RB Leipzig’s 2-1 Champions League win over Paris Saint Germain at the Red Bull Arena last season,
Meet Szymon Marciniak, the referee in charge of Liverpool vs AC Milan
Liverpool begin their Champions League campaign at home against AC Milan at Anfield
Maldini on Champions League
AC Milan director Paolo Maldini spoke about returning to the Champions League telling Sky Italia:
Returning to play in the Champions League here is a signal for us. Milan return to this competition from the main door. Probably we are still some steps away from the best but we must give our best to be competitive.”
AC Milan’s European history
AC Milan are the only Italian side to win the Champions League more than once having triumphed in 1994, 2003 and 2007. They were also beaten finalists in 1993, 1995 and 2005 but have not reached the quarter-finals since 2011-12.
In England, Milan won the 2003 Champions League final at Old Trafford in Manchester, defeating Juventus on penalties after a 0-0 draw, and also lifted the European Cup for the first time with a 2-1 win against Benfica at Wembley in 1963.
However, their record in England against English hosts shows just one win in 18 matches with seven draws and 10 defeats. That win came against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the 2004-05 round of 16 when Hernan Crespo scored the only goal of the game.
Liverpool vs Italy
Liverpool have a decent home record against Italian teams in European competition. They’ve played 14 games at Anfield, won eight, drawn once and lost five times.
Although last season’s loss to Atalanta made it three defeats in the last seven of such fixtures.
In European finals Liverpool have met Italian clubs in four times and have a 50% win record. They were victorious against Roma in 1984 and AC Milan in 2005 but lost to Juventus in 1985 and AC Milan in 2007.
Fortress Anfield
Under Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool have only lost one of their 12 group stage games in the Champions League at Anfield with nine wins and two draws, averaging 2.5 goals per game in such fixtures.
Klopp on Zlatan
He’s not in the Milan squad for this game but Zlatan Ibrahimovic is always on the mind. Before the news broke that he was out of the game Jurgen Klopp was asked about how to handle the 39-year-old and he had nothing but compliments.
"Zlatan. What a player," Klopp said. "I saw videos of him when he got injured a few months ago and saw him on the spinning bike and fighting back saying ‘Lions don’t rest long’ or whatever [he said].
"He’s a man for exceptional moments. If he’s not playing, Olivier Giroud will play or [Ante] Rebic will play. All really good players.
"Zlatan is one of the best players this game has ever seen. He knows that and he says that to everybody and I like that about him.
"Some careers end even when there is still a bit of fuel in the tank but he squeezes every drop out of his body. He is capable of playing in each league in the world and that is exceptional."
Liverpool vs AC Milan prediction: How will Champions League fixture play out tonight?
The Champions League continues tonight and Premier League side Liverpool start their group campaign at home to AC Milan.
Despite the two clubs being among the most successful handful of teams in European Cup history, they have only ever met twice in competitive games - the 2005 and 2007 Champions League finals.
This occasion, then, will be a rather different one and a first visit for the Serie A giants to Anfield. Neither one has 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.
Liverpool vs AC Milan prediction: How the fixture play out tonight?
All you need to know as AC Milan travel to Anfield in the Champions League
A long wait for Milan
AC Milan are making their first appearance in the Champions League group stage since 2013-14. This is the 18th time they have featured and they are just four behind Juventus’s Italian record of 22.
Milan’s last 11 Champions League campaigns have all extended into the knockout rounds, although five of the last six ended in the round of 16.
In their last Champions League campaign the Rossoneri were beaten by Atlético Madrid in the last 16 having finished second in their group behind Barcelona, picking up nine points from their six matches.
But now, the seven-time European Cup champions are back and they stand in Liverpool’s way.
Liverpool under Klopp
Liverpool are in the Champions League group stage for the 14th time; they have only failed to progress to the last 16 or further three times before.
This is the Red’s fifth successive group campaign under Jürgen Klopp. They finished as runners-up to Real Madrid in the 2017-18 final and claimed their sixth European Cup at the expense of Tottenham with a 2-0 victory in the 2018-19 final.
Liverpool’s last two Champions League campaigns have ended in defeat against clubs from Madrid. They went out to Atlético in the 2019-20 round of 16 and last year lost to Real Madrid in the quarterfinals.
Jordan Henderson sends message to Simon Kjaer after role in saving Christian Eriksen’s life
Ahead of AC Milan’s clash with Liverpool this evening, Reds captain Jordan Henderson has told Denmark skipper Simon Kjaer he has “the respect and admiration of everyone in football” for the part he played in saving team-mate Christian Eriksen’s life.
Jordan Henderson says Simon Kjaer has ‘the respect and admiration of everyone’
The Denmark captain came to Christian Eriksen’s assistance when he suffered a cardiac arrest.
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