AC Milan 1-2 Liverpool: Reds maintain their 100% Champions League record with comeback win at San Siro as Mo Salah scores yet again before Divock Origi nets his second in four days to dump Italians out
- Former Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori fired AC Milan ahead against Liverpool against the run of play
- But Liverpool responded well and equalised through a predatory Mo Salah strike before half-time in Milan
- Divock Origi continued his fine form with a header before the hour mark after a mistake by Tomori
- Liverpool have become the first English side to win all six to their Champions League group stage games
- AC Milan though have been dumped out of the competition and Europe altogether after finishing bottom
High up in the stands, as the clock ran down, a group of travelling Liverpool fans unfurled a red banner across green tarpaulin to make it stand out.
‘Campione Liverpool,’ it read, simply, and once again you came away from a night in Europe thinking that declaration will ring true in St Petersburg next May. Beating AC Milan in the San Siro might not be the scalp of old but that should not detract from the achievement.
Liverpool, thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi, came from behind to ensure they topped Group B – the one that had been labelled the ‘Group of Death’ – with a 100 per cent record. Be in no doubt, their rivals for the biggest trophy of them all will have taken that all on board.
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AC Milan are seven-time European Cup winners but Liverpool, in this vein, look capable of joining them on that number. It remains to be seen if they will stay the distance in the domestic title race but, in Europe, anything is possible.
There will come a point, one day in the not so distant future, when this cathedral is no longer here. An ambitious new arena is in the planning, so it makes every chance to visit the San Siro that little bit more special – Liverpool have only played here twice, so were determined to embrace it.
Coming here, it is impossible not to think about Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini, those swaggering Dutchmen Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard or Kaka, Andriy Shevchenko and George Weah. AC Milan are a quintessential Champions League team, who enrich the competition.
They were desperate to make the knockout phase for the first time in eight years but their task suddenly became a good deal header in the moment before kick-off when Klopp handed in a team sheet – complete with Salah, Sadio Mane and Alisson Becker – that stated Liverpool’s intent.
‘A lot of people were surprised but we wanted to win,’ said Klopp. ‘This group has a desire and we needed fresh legs. You know, I am so happy the boys showed how good they are; how well-organised and brave they are, how disciplined they are and how cheeky they are.’
They were all of that and more. From the moment young Tyler Morton had the first shot of intent – what an experience this was, so early in his embryonic career – Liverpool were in control. Morton has started the last two Champions League games and there will be more starts in the future.
For all that Liverpool dominated possession in the opening exchanges, it was always going to be a difficult to sustain it from start to finish, as the onus was on Milan – hollered on by the raucous Curva Sud ultras – to step up and give themselves a chance.
Much of what they did ended up down dead ends. Ibrahima Konate and the outstanding Nat Phillips – who produced a Cruyff turn in his own area in the second half – never put a foot out of place but the one moment there was a drop off, Milan scored the goal that got the home crowd roaring.
Konate had done his job when diverting Zlatan Ibrahimovic away to force a corner but Liverpool went to sleep when Junior Messias whipped a left-footed set piece in and Alisson couldn’t handle it; he succeeded in turning the ball into the path of Fikayo Tomori, who gleefully accepted the gift.
Milan needed to build up a head of steam to save themselves and – just as importantly – they needed to keep this free-scoring Liverpool at bay until half-time.
They couldn’t even hold on for seven minutes.
Liverpool swept up the field and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – who, under the radar, is getting more consistency with each minute he plays – caught Maignan by surprise with a snapshot from the right side of the penalty area and the goalkeeper fumbled it.
Who was lurking? Salah, of course. The rebound bounced at him but there was not a single second when you considered anything other than the Egyptian scoring.
That was what he did, carefully placing his left foot effort into the roof of the net.
If you wanted an idea of how much emphasis Klopp had placed on the game, it came in his celebration.
There was no cursory arm wave or little fist shake, this was a proper excited hopscotch in his technical area, a jig to show he was living the moment.
From the moment Liverpool secured parity, there was a sense of resignation amongst the home crowd, who also knew they were not going to get the favour they needed in Portugal from the clash between Porto and Atletico Madrid to see them through.
Gradually they began to turn the screw.
Early in the second half, Liverpool took firm control. They may have benefitted from a helping hand, as Tomori made a hash of trying to control a ball on the edge of his own area and Maignan’s gloves seemed to be made out of Teflon, as nothing stuck.
Still, Liverpool needed to convert the opportunity and that is what Origi did, with a looping header after Maignan pushed Sadio Mane’s drive back up into the air. What a catalogue of goals he is compiling and what a formidable reputation Liverpool are building.
‘I don’t feel pride as I expect good things to happen,’ said Klopp. ‘It is easy to make changes but the boys have to be confident enough to show how good they are. We have won all the games, which is incredible and another chapter in the history of this group of players.’
Keep going like this and plenty more chapters will be written in the future, too.
RE-LIVE ALL THE ACTION AS IT HAPPENED...
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Dan Ripley Host commentator
Pride, probably not even that as Sergio Oliviera scores with the final kick of the game from the penalty spot.
More goals against the run of play, with Boban Nikolov scoring against the run of play to earn a point in the dead rubber. Goals, goals everywhere this evening.
Incredible. Another counter and another Atletico goal who have somehow won this 3-0 with Rodrigo poking home a loose ball.
Classic Atletico. On the back foot most of the night, down to 10 men, and yet on the counter attack they double their lead.
Griezmann plays Angel Correa through and he slides home across goal in stoppage time. They are heading through along with Liverpool from Group B - despite starting the evening bottom.
Into the last 10 minutes, and Milan finally have a chance. Franck Kessie is played in on goal, but his shot is beaten away at point blank range by Alisson who closed down the midfielder well.
Little happening at the San Siro. Liverpool look so, so comfortable despite the front three of Salah, Mane and Origi all going off to be replaced by Joe Gomez, Fabinho and Naby Keita.
Erling Haaland nods home his second goal following a corner... and that's his 17th goal in just 13 games this season. Ludicrous stats.
Game over now, with Marco Asensio perfectly blasting across goal right into the top corner from distance.
Bruno Tabata nets a pretty neat consolation goal with a rising effort from the edge of the box.
It's insane over in Porto. Yannick Carrasco is sent off for a right hook after a tangle with a Porto player and it leads to total chaos on the touchline.
Minutes later Wendell is then given a red card for the hosts, albeit harshly after raising his arm to an opponent who seemed to go down in ludicrous fashion.
Not even VAR can save him though. I think Porto's sub keeper may have even been given a red card.
Yellow cards have been dished out everywhere too and you won't be surprised to learn Pepe is one of them - he was always going to get involved wasn't he.
Meanwhile there is a red card in Spain too with Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella sent off for lashing out after being fouled.
Erling Haaland has only just come off the bench for Reus and already he is on the scoresheet!
That's his first goal in Europe since netting against Spurs in the 2019 Champions League final.
It's like the 1990s all over again. Ajax are running riot as Steven Berghuis makes it 4-1.
Like Liverpool, Ajax are heading for six wins from six in the group stage as David Neres strikes.
Even better news for Atletico, Divock Origi scores again! Sadio Mane's shot is again strangely saved by Mike Maignan, and there to pounce is Divock Origi with an opportunistic header.
Big, big goal for the visitors - a corner finds its way to the back post where an unmarked Antoine Griezmann taps home.
Game over in Dortmund, Marco Reus dancing through the defence before rolling home his second goal.
Liverpool are fortunate not to concede a penalty there. Kostas Tsimikas appears to give Franck Kessie a rather noticeable push inside the box, but despite appeals from the Milan players nothing is given.
And to clear up any confusion, this is Real Madrid's 1,000th in the main competition. Madrid consider it their 1,005th but that includes qualifying games.
As it stands a 1-1 draw is not good enough for AC Milan to join Liverpool in the last-16, as they must win at the San Siro.
They need Porto and Atletico Madrid to remain goalless though, and there has been big chances at both ends in that one. So still all to play for in Group B as three teams into one runners-up spot behind Liverpool does not go.
Dortmund win a penalty at the end of the first half after Welinton is sent off for denying a goal scoring chance, and that allows Marco Reus to double the lead from 12 yards.
Dreadful error from Sporting playing out from the back, and after giving the ball away on the edge of the box, Anthony restores the lead.
Not quite top billing this one, but you have to love a No 99 scoring and Fernando does just that for Shakhtar in this dead rubber.
Liverpool have responded well since falling behind and after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's strike is weakly parried away by Maignan, allowing Mohamed Salah to smash home his 20th goal of the season. Porto are back in the runners-up spot now in Group B.
Of course with Porto and Atletico Madrid drawing, that means as it stands, AC Milan will be joining Liverpool into the last-16.
But Milan do strike! Liverpool make a mess of defending a near post corner, as Takumi Minamino allows the ball to pass him and as Alisson poorly parries the ball in front of him, Fikayo Tomori clears up the afters to fire the Italian side ahead.
Jude Bellingham has done a lot of talking this week, but he can do the walk as well as he tees up Donyell Malen to finish on the counter attack.
Quite a relaxed tempo at the San Siro. Liverpool are still seeing more of the ball, which is quite surprising given it is Milan who must win this evening.
Playing the long game perhaps? Jurgen Klopp's side are unsurprisingly not going hell for leather here.
Now that is a skillful finish. Bruno Tabata floats a high ball into the box, and at full stretch Nuno Santos watches the ball drop over his shoulder before guiding it across goal into the bottom corner.
Top strike this from Madrid. Slightly against the run of play but the hosts build down the right through the veteran Luka Modric before the ball is squared to Toni Kroos who from 25-yards-out blasts home across goal into the bottom corner. Beautiful strike.
Both sides are already through but winner takes a seeded spot in the last-16.
There is some drama in this group. Atletico Madrid have been forced into an early change, with Luis Suarez departing injured in favour of Matheus Cunha.
Not much happening in Milan, with Alessio Romagnoli taking a knock after a clollision with Divock Origi to make an already slow game come to a halt as he receives treatment on the pitch.
Fikayo Tomori heads a chance on goal for the hosts but it is easily saved by Alisson.
Goals already, no major ones though, as Ajax win an early penalty that is converted by Sebastien Haller against Sporting Lisbon. Both sides are already through to the last-16.
Liverpool in their bright yellow kits make a bright start. A shot on goal to test Mike Maignan already, but the Milan stopper easily saves a weak effort from Neco Williams 20 yards out.
A reminder of the team news at the San Siro...
AC Milan: Maignan, Kalulu Kyatengwa, Tomori, Romagnoli, Hernandez, Tonali, Kessie, Messias, Diaz, Krunic, Ibrahimovic.
Subs: Tatarusanu, Bennacer, Toure, Florenzi, Maldini, Bakayoko, Gabbia, Saelemaekers, Jungdal.
Liverpool: Alisson, Williams, Konate, Phillips, Tsimikas, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Morton, Minamino, Salah, Origi, Mane.
Subs: Fabinho, Keita, Gomez, Robertson, Matip, Dixon-Bonner, Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Bradley, Davies, Norris, Woltman.
Referee: Danny Makkelie (Holland)
Manchester City suffered defeat in Leipzig, while PSG easily saw off Club Brugge. Pep Guardiols'a side though still progress with the French league leaders as group winners.
It's been nearly 10 years since we last saw them challenging for the Serie A title, but they look to be on the mend and heading into tonight they sit top of the pile in Italy.
They won 2-0 at home to Salernitana at the weekend and look to be in decent form.
I have heard thought that life does begin at 40, so time for the great Swede to step up against the Reds?
As you can see nothing for the Reds to lose tonight. They could get absolutely hammered and still end the night as distant group winners.
It's all about who will join them in the last-16 from the group with Porto hosting Atletico Madrid in a very close three-way fight also involving AC Milan.
As mentioned it's the start of the final round of group stage matches, everything must be decided this week.
To keep you up to speed, here is how the land lies in each group.
Two matches are already in the second half which you can follow live here, but here are the six matches to round off the evening on the penultimate night of group stage drama.
AC Milan make four changes from the weekend, they key one among those seeing veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic returning to the side.
Liverpool only field three of the team that defeated Wolves 1-0 thanks to a last gasp Divock Origi effort who comes into the line-up alongside Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, with Alisson the only other player to start at Molineux.
Maignan, Kalulu, Tomori, Romagnoli, Hernandez, Kessie, Tonali, Krunic, Messias Junior, Diaz, Ibrahimovic.
Alisson, Williams, Phillips, Konate, Tsimikas, Morton, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Minamino, Mane, Salah, Origi.
Although in truth that's most weekends anyway at the moment.
Still with Liverpool already qualified for the last-16 of the Champions League there is nothing on the line for them this evening aside from a 100 per cent record in the group stage, as I welcome you to our live coverage of the Reds trip to AC Milan.
Liverpool will be looking for a win to complete a perfect group stage performance as they take on AC Milan at the San Siro in a huge Champions League clash.
The Reds have won all five of their group matches so far, and are assured to go through as group winners already as they take on an Italian side still looking to secure a last-16 place.
Follow Sportsmail's DAN RIPLEY for live Champions League coverage, including build-up, updates and scorelines as groups B, C and D come to an enticing close.
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