Milan-Liverpool has always been a fiery combination. In football lore, the Champions League final of 2005 will always be immortalised. Everyone knows the story of how Milan scored three goals in the first half during the final but Liverpool came back during the second half and scored three which lead to them winning the match on penalties. The events from that match are fixed in the minds of fans like a still image.
When we found through the draw, that Liverpool and Milan are facing again in the Champions League in 2021, after so many years., we did not expect any difference despite them being in different positions on the European ladder. Liverpool is one of Europe’s best teams and won the Champions League two seasons back, meanwhile, Milan is just getting accustomed to being at this stage after so long.
We still expected fireworks at Anfield and we got it, despite the different positions they hold. Liverpool may have won 3-2 at home but Milan did give a fine account of themselves. The match deserved to be a knockout tie but as luck has it, we are seeing it in the group stages. Liverpool did physically outmatch the Rossoneri but the latter did not give up heart despite that.
The first half started with a disaster for Milan as during the 9th minute, Mohamed Salah played Trent Alexander Arnold on who ran into the opposite team’s box and hit a shot from the side which got deflected by English defender Fikayo Tomori and an own goal was given. Liverpool scored an early goal and it looked like it was going to be a whitewash.
Milan, as said above, did not give up. They were given hope when Mohamed Salah missed a penalty as goalkeeper Mike Maignan stood as a wall between the sticks. He also made a brilliant save from a great shot by Salah. Liverpool was pounding on the Milan defence who were surviving each attack.
The end of the first half produced the fruits from that work as Rafael Leão gave a through ball to forward Ante Rebic who hit a right footed shot from the left side of the goal to equalise during the 42nd minute. Manager Stefano Pioli was very happy when Milan produced a second goal out of nowhere when former Real Madrid player Brahim Diaz hit a left-footed shot at a close range and Milan lead 1-2 at Anfield. Shortly after the beginning of the second half, Salah again produced the goods as Divock Origi floated the ball over the Milan defence for the Egyptian forward to slot it past Maignan. Liverpool produced the 3rd goal at the 69th minute when a Liverpool corner was deflected by the Milan defence but it went straight to captain Jordan Henderson who hit a great shot from just outside the box to make it 3-2 for the Scousers.
The match ended with Liverpool having to sweat, at times, to a Milan team who are pretty new to this stage. Milan’s inexperience counted a lot to how this match ended up. This match was indeed a firecracker and in line, with how the tradition is, in regards to their matches. Fans will hope that the match in San Siro will be the same.
