Liverpool player ratings vs AC Milan as £36m player stands out and attacker gives Arne Slot headache

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool recovered from their Nottingham Forest nightmare in fine fashion as they beat AC Milan 3-1 in the Champions League.

Christian Pulisic gave the hosts an early lead, but Liverpool centre-back pairing Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk helped complete a first-half comeback.

Dominik Szoboszlai then slotted home a third, giving Arne Slot the dream start to his first Champions League match as Liverpool manager. Here’s how we rated the players.

Defence

Alisson Becker: 5 – Certainly not at fault for Pulisic’s goal, Alisson ensured Milan couldn’t find a way back into the game after his side went ahead, albeit with a minor slip-up that went unpunished. The Brazilian wasn’t anywhere near as busy as his opposite number Mike Maignan, who was put through the paces by the Reds frontline before going off with an injury.

Trent Alexander-Arnold: 6 – A cute delivery from the right-back found the head of Konate for the equaliser, but other than that Alexander-Arnold was quiet for his standards, although his superb range of passing was still on show for the travelling Liverpool fans.

Virgil van Dijk: 7- A relatively uneventful evening for the captain turned busy as he put the Anfield outfit 2-1 ahead with a fantastic header. His calming presence at the back helped the away side see out the match from there.

Ibrahima Konate: 9 Man of the Match – Konate was solid from the very first whistle despite the early goal for the hosts, with the £36million defender quickly taking that momentum into the final third as he rose highest to superbly head home an Alexander-Arnold free-kick. The clear partner for Van Dijk, although Slot seemingly already knows that after his early season treatment of Jarell Quansah.

Kostas Tsimikas: 5 – Coming in for Andy Robertson in one of two changes from Slot, Tsimikas endured a nightmare opening few minutes, with the left-back beaten far too easily in the build-up to Pulisic’s goal. The Greek international did make up for his early sloppiness with a fine corner-kick for Van Dijk’s header.

Midfield

Ryan Gravenberch: 7 – His flying start to the new season was never going to last, with fatigue perhaps catching up with Gravenberch as the game went on, but it was still another busy display from the Netherlands man, who seemingly covered every blade of grass at the San Siro.

Alexis Mac Allister: 6 – Slot is doing his best to protect Mac Allister, but he was once again entrusted from the start given his importance in midfield. The Argentine wasn’t a standout, but he broke up play well and kept the ball ticking, although he did pick up a cheap yellow card.

Attack

Cody Gakpo: 8 – The second change from Slot, Luis Diaz’s replacement Gakpo was undoubtedly Liverpool’s most dangerous attacker early on thanks to his quick feet and superb acceleration, which helped win the free-kick that produced Konate’s goal. The Netherlands star definitely deserved a goal on the night, but had to settle for an assist for Szoboszlai.

Dominik Szoboszlai: 8 – Szoboszlai struggled to get into the game at times in the first-half, but he turned on the charm by superbly latching onto Gakpo’s cutback, guiding the ball home to give Liverpool some breathing space in Milan, with his tireless efforts continuing right until the last whistle.

Mohamed Salah: 7 – Salah was certainly very lively at stages in Italy, giving Gakpo a run for his money early on. The Egyptian winger was extremely unlucky not to find the back of the net twice in the first half, with shots from both feet smashing back off the crossbar, before his impact died down as the match went on.

Diogo Jota: 5 – Jota’s usually fantastic finishing was absent at the San Siro, with a close-range opportunity missed by the Portugal star just before the half-hour mark summarising his evening. Gakpo will give Slot a selection headache with his display, although it could well be that Jota is the attacker dropped next time out after his struggles in Italy.

Substitutes

Luis Diaz: 5 – Diaz may have been worried watching Gakpo’s masterclass from the bench, and he didn’t exactly help himself as he struggled to get into the game.

Darwin Nunez: 5 – Nunez will have been frustrated not to have started the match given his lack of minutes so far this season and the need for Slot to rotate his attack. But again, he offered very little upon his entrance.

Joe Gomez: 6 – Gomez did enough to help the Reds see out a huge win, having replaced Alexander-Arnold at right-back.

Wataru Endo: N/A – A very brief cameo from the Japan international, who replaced Mac Allister in the final minutes.

Federico Chiesa: N/A – Slot teased minutes for Chiesa, although the Italian perhaps would have wanted more than just injury time at a ground he knows well from his time in the country. Regardless, the player, Slot and indeed the Anfield faithful will be delighted that he has made his debut, with a first start surely not too far away.