Liverpool secured a deserved 3-1 win over AC Milan on Tuesday to open their Champions League account with three points.
The Champions League’s newly-revamped format drew up two European giants together and that repeat of the 2005 and 2007 epic finals.
The duo are far different teams now, with Liverpool losing their first match under Arne Slot at the weekend, but bouncing straight back at the San Siro.
Life is different for Paulo Fonseca at AC Milan because his team were deservedly beaten, despite having the advantage of playing on home soil.
Added to the fact that ex-Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic opened the scoring with a brilliant driving run and pin-point finish into the bottom corner from a tight angle.
Jamie Carragher praised the USMNT international for his goal and how he beat ‘one of the best goalkeepers in the world’ in Alisson Becker.
But that’s back-to-back games Liverpool have now conceded in and Carragher was critical of how his side defended that moment.
The former centre-back pointed out that the pressing structure was ‘all over the place’ and Virgil van Dijk made the ‘wrong’ call when Kostas Tsimikas came out to press the opposition full-back, all of which led to the goal, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (17/09/24 at 8:55 pm).
“Tsimikas was pressing the opposition’s full-back. Van Dijk has a decision to make and he makes the wrong one.
“And, would you believe? Pulisic, who is going to run 40 yards here, is going to run 40 yards and finish before anyone comes across him to make a challenge. Konate has to come across, but to run that far with the ball, and still have the composure and precision to finish against one of the best goalkeepers in world football, fantastic.”
Liverpool under Arne Slot in the Champions League
Liverpool has a rich history in the Champions League and Jurgen Klopp continued that tradition when he was in charge.
That’s why there is huge pressure on Slot to make something happen this season and in the coming years.
From van Dijk to Mohamed Salah, the Reds have several players in the dressing room who understand what it’s like to reach a European Cup final, so in that sense, there aren’t any excuses.
Slot always knew replacing Klopp was going to be difficult and the pressure will only increase as the games pile in.