AC Milan experienced a difficult night at Anfield as we fell to a 3-2 defeat to Liverpool in our opening Champions League game.
The hosts came out quickly and dominated early on, with a Fikayo Tomori own goal breaking the deadlock after an unfortunate deflection on Trent Alexander Arnold’s shot.
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Milan turned the game on its head just before half-time though through goals from Ante Rebic and Brahim Diaz, but Mohamed Salah hit back shortly after the break before Jordan Henderson fired home the winner.
While it was a tough test for the Rossoneri, there is certainly a lot that they can take away from the experience and learn from as we continue to grow into a side capable of competing at this level.
Important learning experience for Milan players
This was a real baptism of fire for most of the Milan squad given their lack of experience in the Champions League against a side with the quality of Liverpool in such an intense atmosphere.
We showed great character and belief to hit back and take the lead before half-time, and while there is an overriding feeling of disappointment given our position at the break, Stefano Pioli will assess the game with his players and show them where they went wrong.
As we look to challenge for the Serie A title this season and try to advance beyond the group stage of the Champions League, nights like these are part of the growth of a young side trying to get to the top.
Maignan, Kjaer, Tomori form solid core
From the shot-stopping of Mike Maignan to Simon Kjaer’s composure and experience combined with the aggression and speed of Fikayo Tomori, Milan have a solid foundation on which to build.
While they will be disappointed to concede three goals, the areas of weakness were around them on both flanks and particularly in midfield as they weren’t given enough protection.
Pioli has a real balance between his centre-halves while Maignan has wasted no time in showing his class between the posts.
Bennacer and Kessie must do better
On a night like this, particularly in the opening stages of the game where we had to weather a real storm, our midfield has to stand up, steady the ship and take control.
Neither Ismael Bennacer nor Franck Kessie were able to do that as they looked overwhelmed by the occasion at times as well as being not quite up to the pace of the game.
That’s where we lost control and couldn’t settle into the encounter, and so for them, it’s a big learning experience to understand what it takes at the top level.
Losing key battles
Whether it was Alexander Arnold losing Rafael Leao to break forward for the opening goal or Davide Calabria being tested relentlessly along with the aforementioned midfield issues which were a problem for the second and third goals, Milan needed to win battles across the pitch but failed to do so.
Collectively, we’ve got to be better organised and compact. However, in games of this magnitude it also comes down to individual clashes and getting the better of a direct opponent, and Liverpool certainly had more success in that regard.
Milan show competitive ability in Champions League
Despite all the negatives from this game, the fact that Milan were able to battle back from behind and make it competitive shows that this side can produce even in adversity.
Lessons need to be learned from this outing ahead of facing Liverpool again as well as Atletico Madrid and Porto, and it’s hoped that we address those quickly.
Nevertheless, to go up against a seasoned side like Jurgen Klopp’s men who have established themselves in Europe in more recent years, at their home in front of a noisy faithful, it was going to take a big effort from the players and they showed enough to offer hope and belief moving forward that they will be better off despite the defeat.