MILAN, Italy -- Liverpool cruised to a 3-1 Champions League win against AC Milan in their opening game of the new expanded competition, but Arne Slot's team had to fight back from conceding a third-minute Christian Pulisic stunner to seal victory in San Siro.
With seven-time European champions Milan facing six-time winners Liverpool, it was the perfect glamour clash for UEFA to launch their new-look league phase of the competition. Although Pulisic's goal gave Liverpool an early scare and offered Milan hope of a surprise win, the reality turned out to be different with Liverpool making easy work of the home side.
Mohamed Salah struck the crossbar twice before defenders Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk both scored headers from set pieces to give Liverpool a 2-1 half-time lead. A Dominik Szoboszlai goal on 67 minutes made the game safe for Liverpool, but their win was never in doubt after they had cancelled out Pulisic's opener. -- Mark Ogden
Liverpool's set piece threat evident under Slot
It is still early days for Slot at Liverpool, but his team's first two goals against Milan showed a subtle change in approach under the former Feyenoord coach from his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp's Liverpool were all about the goals of his attacking players and midfielders rather than relying too heavily on the training ground work of converting set pieces. But goalscoring headers from Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk in the first-half highlighted Slot's readiness to take advantage of the physical attributes of his defenders, who are both well over 6 feet tall.
First, Konate powerfully headed Trent Alexander-Arnold's free kick past flailing keeper Mike Maignan from inside the six-yard box, before Van Dijk did the same from a Kostas Tsimikas corner. Both goals were simple and direct, further proof of Slot's work with this team.
It also bears noting that as impressive as Liverpool were in their execution, Milan were abject when it came to defending. Centre-halves Fikayo Tomori and Strahinja Pavlovic were far too passive in dealing with both deliveries, and Konate and Van Dijk will not have easier chances all season. Their aerial threat is without question and Liverpool will score more goals from set pieces by exploiting these strengths this season. -- Ogden
"Captain America" starts brightly before Milan fade
Christian Pulisic's night could not have gotten off to a better start. A lay-off from Álvaro Morata, a no-show of defense from Tsimikas and there he was, scything down the right flank and smacking a diagonal finish past Alisson, avoiding the recovery challenge of a desperate Alexis Mac Allister.
However, things went downhill from there, partly because Milan failed to get him the ball, and partly because, with Liverpool on the front foot, Pulisic found himself spending a lot of time tracking back to help Davide Calabria cope with Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota on the left side of Liverpool's attack.
Pulisic's chemistry with Morata is also something that coach Paulo Fonseca will want to work on. Opening goal aside, the U.S. and Spain internationals failed to connect, especially when Morata dropped deep from his central striker position. Off the ball, he was his usual industrious self, but more menace toward Alisson's goal would have been welcomed. -- Gab Marcotti
Alexander-Arnold, Leão show their good and bad sides
The head-to-head encounter between AC Milan forward Rafael Leão and Liverpool defender Alexander-Arnold perfectly summed up the strengths and weaknesses of two of the most talented but infuriating players in the game.
Senior Writer, ESPN FC
