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Sep 17, 2024, 05:35 PM ETSzoboszlai's second-half goal capped a good evening for Liverpool, who rallied from an early deficit to beat Milan in their Champions League opener. Vasile Mihai-Antonio/Getty Images

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.

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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.

-- 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.

Both goals were simple and direct, further proof of Slot's work with this team.

Arne Slot's side masterfully exploited set pieces to seize control of Tuesday's game in Milan. Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images

It also bears noting that as impressive as Liverpool were in their execution, Milan were abject when it came to defending.

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 third-minute goal had things neatly poised for a fairytale Milan night at the San Siro, except Liverpool's rally rendered it a frustrating footnote. Giuseppe Cottini/AC Milan via Getty Images

Pulisic's chemistry with Morata is also something that coach Paulo Fonseca will want to work on.

Had Leao been more aware of his surroundings, he would have targeted the gaps left by Alexander-Arnold and hurt Liverpool, but it didn't happen.

The England star also wasted possession too often, but did create Liverpool's opening goal for Konate with his famed set-piece delivery from a free-kick.

It is the same as ever with Alexander-Arnold.