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 edge AC Milan on barely believable night of Champions League magic
A beautiful night, barely believable in stanzas, condensed the magic of the Champions League into 95 minutes.
Liverpool and Milan, so tightly stitched into the fabric of this tournament, produced one of those matches you hoped wouldn’t end.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were the victors, only just, having initially shaped up to be ruthless vanquishers. Milan were on the ropes, then touching the sky, before falling to the turf.
Liverpool edge AC Milan on barely believable night of Champions League magic
Liverpool 3-2 AC Milan: The group-stage game ebbed and flowed until Jordan Henderson settled it with a fine half-volley
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Reaction from Robertson
Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson speaking to BT Sport:
It is one of them. Enjoyable for the neutral and I am sure the fans in here loved it by the time we got ahead. First half an hour we blew them away. Then we got sloppy and stopped doing the things we were doing really well. We let them back into the game and walk in at half-time thinking ‘how have we let this happen?’
“It was important at the start of the second half to come and forget about the last 10 minutes and come out and do what we did for the first half-hour.
“We got an early goal and then what a strike by Hendo and then we were able to see out the game. They didn’t really have chances after that which is really pleasing. We know how tough the Champions league is and how important it is to start with three points.
“There wasn’t much to solve. It was the last 10 minutes the gaps in midfield got too big. They found spaces between us, which is always dangerous, especially when the wingers start to go inside. As soon as we closed the gaps there was no room to play.
“When you play in this tournament it is against good teams. We need to be smarter. Really tough but we managed to come out second half, play our football and enjoy it again.”
Henderson named Player of the Match
Jordan Henderson has been given the Uefa Player of the Match award for his 69th minute winner against AC Milan. I think that’s harsh on Trent Alexander-Arnold who was fantastic all night for Liverpool. He set up the first and third goals for the Reds.
Henderson’s strike sinks Milan
Mo Salah and Jordan Henderson popped up in the second half for Liverpool and both found the back of the net. Henderson scored in the Champions League for the first time in seven years to secure all three points for Liverpool.
Liverpool 3 - 2 AC Milan
A few stats for you. Liverpool had 23 shots at goal with eight on target compared to Milan’s seven and four. The Reds won 15 corners and made 11 fouls.
Oh, and Mo Salah moved level with Steven Gerrard as Liverpool’s joint top scorer in European competition.
Liverpool 3 - 2 AC Milan
Jurgen Klopp goes over to the Liverpool fans in the Kop. He raises his fist and is met with loud cheers. I think he might have enjoyed that one.
Full-time: Liverpool 3 - 2 AC Milan
90+5 mins: Milner twice takes the ball into the corner and shields it from the Milan defenders. A free kick comes long and Alexander-Arnold’s clearance comes to Brahim Diaz. He slides it to Theo Hernandez who shoots from outside the box but the effort goes over the bar.
That’s that. The final whistle goes and Liverpool have the win! Great game, and a great result for Liverpool.
Liverpool 3 - 2 AC Milan
90+2 mins: Mane is released into the box but he can’t get the ball from under his own feet in time to shoot. He gets closed down and Liverpool are forced to retreat.
They keep hold of the ball though and switch it out to Robertson on the left but he’s dispossessed by Calabria and Milan storm forward.
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