Soccer Football - Champions League - AC Milan v Liverpool - San Siro, Milan, Italy - September 17, 2024 Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai scores their third goal REUTERS/Claudia Greco
MILAN (Reuters) -Liverpool celebrated their return to the Champions League after a year's absence with a 3-1 victory over AC Milan at San Siro on Tuesday, overcoming a shaky start with goals from Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Liverpool got off to an awful first few minutes in the battle between the two European heavyweights as Christian Pulisic fired Milan in front from a quick counter-attack in the third minute, aided by Liverpool's disorganised defending.
But the visitors quickly regrouped and stamped their authority on the game, with both Liverpool's centre backs getting on the scoresheet before halftime and Szoboszlai wrapping up the win after the break.
"A great way to spend my birthday," said Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who turned 46 on Tuesday and was serenaded post-game by the Liverpool fans. "You wouldn't have said this after five minutes, but after we did well."
Pulisic netted after sprinting down the right side virtually unchallenged to fire home from a tight angle.
The home side's celebration was short-lived, however, as Liverpool turned things around, dominating for much of the remainder of the game.
"Shaky start with the goal that we conceded," Van Dijk told Amazon Prime. "But after that, the way we stayed calm, kept playing, kept looking for the solution, I think that was very good to see."
Konate equalised in the 23rd minute when he leapt high above a crowd of defenders to head in Trent Alexander-Arnold's free kick, with his first goal in two-and-a-half years coming after Davide Calabria's tackle on Cody Gakpo led to the set-piece.
Skipper Van Dijk put Liverpool ahead to the delight of some 4,400 travelling fans when he nodded home Kostas Tsimikas' corner just before halftime.
Szoboszlai sealed the victory in the 67th minute, slotting into the far corner from Cody Gakpo's cross after Milan gave up possession and Liverpool broke quickly.
The night marked Slot's first Champions League game at the helm of the Merseyside club since he replaced Juergen Klopp, and it was a terrific response from his team after their shock 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday.
"The positive thing after losing on Saturday, which was quite a blow for us, to be honest, then to be 1-0 down after three minutes, you're always wondering how the team reacts, but I think we showed how good we can play," Slot said. "It's almost unbelievable that you lose against Forest at home, and then can play this well today."
Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah could have padded his team's lead several times, smashing two shots off the crossbar in the first half alone.
The last away team to come from behind to win a Champions League game at the San Siro was Liverpool in December 2021.
(Reporting by Lori EwingEditing by Toby Davis)
