CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
WHAT is it with Liverpool and AC Milan when they get together on a European night?
Nothing should surprise us when these two heavyweights collide – and last night’s Champions League clash at Anfield added another chapter to a footballing tale that still takes some believing.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson hit a 25-yard half-volley to ensure of another magical moment in Europe for the Reds.
After the ‘Miracle of Istanbul’ in 2005 we almost got another one, just this time on Merseyside, as Milan threatened to produce an incredible triumph against all the odds. Sound familiar?
Jurgen Klopp’s men went ahead through former Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori’s own goal before missing a penalty as they threatened to rip the Rossoneri to pieces.
But somehow the visitors picked themselves up off the canvas to take the lead with two goals inside two minutes from Ante Rebic and Brahim Diaz as Milan flirted with pulling off the perfect Italian job.
But second-half goals from Mo Salah and skipper Henderson saw Liverpool produce a comeback of their own to make a winning start to their Group B campaign. This meeting between two genuine footballing Goliaths was only their fourth-ever clash in Europe, but it’s fair to say both of them had a bit of history in the Champions League. Liverpool produced the mother of all comebacks to stun Milan in the final 16 years ago, before the Italians took revenge in the showpiece game two seasons later.
Milan, back in the competition for the first time since 2014, were without talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic through injury.
Klopp, meanwhile, made four changes and decided to leave out Virgil van Dijk. A decision he was probably regretting come half-time.
Stefano Pioli’s side came to Anfield full of confidence, but Liverpool
started on fire and should have been home and hosed inside the opening 30 minutes.
Chances came and went on a regular basis, with Divock Origi, Diogo Jota and Joel Matip all going close.
A goal was coming and duly arrived on nine minutes when Trent Alexander-arnold charged into the box before beating Mike Maignan from a tight angle with a shot that deflected off Tomori.
Liverpool were ripping through Milan at will and should have doubled their lead on 14 minutes when Ismael Bennacer handled Andy Robertson’s shot to concede a spotkick, but Maignan denied Salah. Then the unthinkable happened after a host of Liverpool chances and Milan turned the game on its head with two goals in just 110 seconds to take the lead.
Rebic equalised with a cool finish before Diaz finished off a sweeping move to make it 2-1 on the stroke of half-time. Just like 16 years ago, Milan had scored three goals before the break.
Normal service resumed three minutes after the restart when Salah lobbed Maignan following a brilliant assist from Origi to level matters, as the thrills and spills continued.
Liverpool’s fuse was lit again and Jota saw an effort deflect wide.
But from the resulting corner, Henderson pounced to drill a low half-volley into the bottom corner.
Klopp’s side held on to earn a valuable three points in the opening game of the ‘Group of Death.’
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson 6, Alexander-arnold 6, Matip 6, Gomez 6, Robertson 7; HENDERSON 7 (Milner 83), Fabinho 7, Keita 7 (Thiago 71); Salah 7 (Oxlade-chamberlain 83), Jota 6 (Jones 71), Origi 7 (Mane 63, 6).
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan 7; Calabria 6, Kjaer 7, Tomori 5, Hernandez 6; Kessie 6, Bennacer 5 (Tonali 71); Saelemaekers 6 (Florenzi 62, 6), Diaz 7, Leao 7 (Giroud 62, 6); Rebic 7(Maldini 83).
REFEREE: Szymon Marciniak (Poland) 6.