PERFECT HEND TO ISTANBUL MARK 2
Skipper is hero as Reds hit back to stun Milan
JORDAN HENDERSON fired in a second-half stunner to get Liverpool off to a flying start in Europe.
His first Champions League goal in seven years secured a comeback win against AC Milan, reviving memories of the Reds’ Istanbul Final victory against the Italians in 2005.
Fikayo Tomori put a cross into his own net to hand Liverpool the perfect start. Two goals in as many minutes just before halftime then put Milan in front.
But Mo Salah – who missed a first-half penalty – equalised just after the break before Henderson secured the win.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said: “We started incredibly well. We played a super, super game.
“An intense game but football wise as well. We played in all the spaces we had to play and didn’t give them anything.”
Liverpool, driven on by Salah, showed such breathtaking brilliance going forward that Milan looked in serious danger of being taken apart on another magical European night at Anfield.
Yet ultimately, the game was settled by Henderson’s screaming 20-yard drive in the 69th minute, the roof coming off the famous old stadium at full capacity for a European game for the first time in 18 months.
Milan refused to give up, the seven-time European champions making Liverpool look horribly vulnerable in defence with Virgil van Dijk watching on from the home bench.
It is little wonder Klopp rates Group B as the hardest he has encountered during his time at
Anfield, with Atletico Madrid and Porto still to come.
Liverpool clearly sensed they could overwhelm the visitors and made a lightning start. Divock Origi and Joel Matip went close before Trent Alexander-Arnold forced the opening goal after only nine minutes.
He burst forward from the right, Rafael Leao could not keep up and the Liverpool full-back’s shot hit Tomori, bounced up and flew into the net. It was a nightmare return to England for former Chelsea defender Tomori.
Milan were wobbling. Salah should have made it 2-0 when Andy Robertson’s shot hit Ismael Bennacer’s arm.
Referee Szymon Marciniak gave a penalty but Salah’s shot was blocked by keeper Mike Maignan.
It was still all Liverpool, which was why Milan’s turnaround in 110 seconds just before half-time was so stunning.
Leao had acres of space on Liverpool’s right channel and Ante Rebic calmly stroked a shot past Alisson. Then Theo Hernandez’s effort was blocked on the line by Robertson but Brahim Diaz pounced on the loose ball to fire home.
In the second half it was wave after wave of attacks and Liverpool got themselves level within four minutes when Origi played in Salah, who just stayed onside before prodding the ball past Maignan. The noise was deafening. A corner was half cleared by Bennacer and when the ball fell to Henderson he smashed home from the edge of the box.
Klopp added: “It is a tough group. That is why it is important we won this game.
“It does not decide anything but it gave us a winning start.”