Match ends, AC Milan 1, Liverpool 2.
AC MilanAC Milan1LiverpoolLiverpool2
Liverpool became the first English side to win all six Champions League group games as they completed a perfect journey into the knockout stage with victory over AC Milan in Italy.
Manager Jurgen Klopp made eight changes with qualification for the last 16 already assured as group winners, while the Serie A leaders went in search of the win they hoped would secure their own passage into the next phase.
Milan's hopes rose on the half-hour when Takumi Minamino missed a near-post corner and goalkeeper Alisson could only push the ball out to England defender Fikayo Tomori, who scored from close range.
Liverpool's line-up may have had an unfamiliar appearance but they were by far the more accomplished side. Mohamed Salah was in the starting line-up and once again demonstrated his predatory instincts with the equaliser seven minutes later, driving home the rebound after Milan keeper Mike Maignan saved from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
It meant the prolific Salah became the first Liverpool player since Ian Rush to score 20 goals in five successive seasons, also scoring the most goals for the club in the group stage of a European competition with seven.
Liverpool continued to dominate and Divock Origi scored his first goal in the competition since the 2019 Champions League final against Tottenham when he headed in after Maignan saved from Mane 10 minutes after the break.
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Liverpool's smooth progress
When the draw for Champions League Group B was made, it was regarded as one of the toughest sections as Liverpool faced Atletico Madrid, Porto and AC Milan. Instead, they made a mockery of suggestions this could be a tight squeeze by ending with an astonishing 11-point advantage over second-placed Atletico, who beat Porto to go through with them.
Liverpool are now so well-oiled a machine that Klopp could change the face of his team to such an extent after Saturday's win at Wolves and still put out a side that looked dangerous, well-organised and far too good for one of European football's biggest names.
Nathaniel Phillips slotted smoothly into defence with Virgil van Dijk left out and, apart from the goal and a late save from Franck Kessie, Liverpool and keeper Alisson survived virtually untroubled, looking far more likely to add to their advantage than concede another goal.
It was another graphic demonstration of the power of the Premier League as Milan, who head Serie A, were outmanoeuvred with ease by a Liverpool side bearing little resemblance to their full-strength team.
Liverpool will enter the last 16 as one of the most feared teams in the tournament, with their biggest threats appearing to come from Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester City, along with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
Klopp and his players, however, will progress with real confidence that they can once again make it into the latter stages of the Champions League after this latest show of strength.
Player of the match
Mohamed SalahMohamed Salah
with an average of 8.96
AC Milan
Avg
- Squad number23Player nameTomoriAverage rating
4.91
- Squad number16Player nameMaignanAverage rating
4.49
- Squad number20Player nameKaluluAverage rating
4.32
- Squad number8Player nameTonaliAverage rating
4.20
- Squad number19Player nameHernándezAverage rating
4.17
- Squad number79Player nameKessiéAverage rating
4.05
- Squad number13Player nameRomagnoliAverage rating
4.01
- Squad number11Player nameIbrahimovicAverage rating
3.98
- Squad number30Player nameMessiasAverage rating
3.87
- Squad number10Player nameDíazAverage rating
3.77
- Squad number4Player nameBennacerAverage rating
3.67
- Squad number25Player nameFlorenziAverage rating
3.63
- Squad number41Player nameBakayokoAverage rating
3.57
- Squad number33Player nameKrunicAverage rating
3.56
- Squad number56Player nameSaelemaekersAverage rating
3.48
Liverpool
Avg
- Squad number11Player nameMohamed SalahAverage rating
8.96
Squad number27Player nameOrigiAverage rating8.85
- Squad number5Player nameKonatéAverage rating
8.60
Squad number15Player nameOxlade-ChamberlainAverage rating8.52
- Squad number47Player namePhillipsAverage rating
8.52
- Squad number1Player nameAlissonAverage rating
8.34
- Squad number76Player nameN WilliamsAverage rating
8.30
- Squad number80Player nameMortonAverage rating
8.29
Squad number10Player nameManéAverage rating8.28
- Squad number18Player nameMinaminoAverage rating
7.86
Squad number12Player nameGomezAverage rating7.81
- Squad number84Player nameBradleyAverage rating
7.76
- Squad number3Player nameFabinhoAverage rating
7.75
- Squad number82Player nameWoltmanAverage rating
7.73
- Squad number21Player nameTsimikasAverage rating
7.72
- Squad number8Player nameKeïtaAverage rating
7.67
Line-ups
AC Milan
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 16Maignan
- 20KaluluSubstituted forFlorenziat 64'minutes
- 23Tomori
- 13Romagnoli
- 19Hernández
- 8TonaliSubstituted forSaelemaekersat 59'minutes
- 79Kessié
- 30Messias
- 10DíazSubstituted forBennacerat 59'minutes
- 33KrunicSubstituted forBakayokoat 83'minutes
- 11Ibrahimovic
Substitutes
- 1Tatarusanu
- 4Bennacer
- 5Ballo-Touré
- 25Florenzi
- 27Maldini
- 41Bakayoko
- 46Gabbia
- 56Saelemaekers
- 96Jungdal
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Alisson
- 76N WilliamsSubstituted forBradleyat 90+3'minutes
- 47Phillips
- 5Konaté
- 21Tsimikas
- 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 80Morton
- 18MinaminoSubstituted forWoltmanat 90+3'minutes
- 11SalahSubstituted forKeïtaat 64'minutes
- 27OrigiSubstituted forFabinhoat 80'minutes
- 10ManéSubstituted forGomezat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Fabinho
- 8Keïta
- 12Gomez
- 26Robertson
- 32Matip
- 45Dixon-Bonner
- 62Kelleher
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 77Norris
- 82Woltman
- 84Bradley
- 95Davies
- Referee:
- Danny Makkelie
- Attendance:
- 56,237
Match Stats
Home TeamAC MilanAway TeamLiverpool
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away22
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away7
- Corners
- Home3
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, AC Milan 1, Liverpool 2.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Alexis Saelemaekers (AC Milan) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alessio Romagnoli.
Post update
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool).
Post update
Ismaël Bennacer (AC Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Conor Bradley replaces Neco Williams.
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Max Woltman replaces Takumi Minamino.
Post update
Attempt missed. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Naby Keïta with a through ball following a fast break.
Post update
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ismaël Bennacer (AC Milan).
Post update
Foul by Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool).
Post update
Franck Kessié (AC Milan) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Franck Kessié (AC Milan) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ismaël Bennacer with a cross following a set piece situation.
Post update
Foul by Nathaniel Phillips (Liverpool).
Post update
Theo Hernández (AC Milan) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt saved. Franck Kessié (AC Milan) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tiemoué Bakayoko with a through ball.
Post update
Attempt missed. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Franck Kessié with a cross.
Post update
Foul by Takumi Minamino (Liverpool).
Post update
Alessandro Florenzi (AC Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Offside, AC Milan. Ismaël Bennacer tries a through ball, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic is caught offside.
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Comments
Join the conversation
Konate was a beast tonight great performance.
The only down side is Athletico Madrid getting through.
Why is it always sending off's that happen when Athletico are involved. Disgusting team
Group of death 🤣
Let’s hope he stays & doesn’t get moved on in January ✌️YNWA
Two great finishes for the goals, fringe players getting game time, no big injuries. Special mention for Konate who I thought had his best game for us so far.
Job very well done, can't wait for Monday's draw
Only one English team considered European royalty.
Liverpool made it look easy
Group of Death they said. Pfffft.
Group of Death huh?
Salah hits his 20th goal of the season on the 7th December 💪
Epic.
The big three Prem teams are looking on a whole different level this year. Could easily have 3 spots in the semi final at this rate.
As for that drag back by Phillips.. even Ibra looked impressed.
European royalty showing the minnows of England how its done
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆