LFC Transfer Room Match Day

Liverpool 3-2 AC Milan: Player Ratings

Bypriyasha-bhowmik

September 16, 2021

“Those European nights under the Anfield lights” are back! Liverpool took on former European juggernauts and 7 time champions, AC Milan tonight, as the Italian side made their first Champions League appearance since March 2014.

Liverpool themselves can only find themselves walking out of the tunnel to the UCL anthem only because of some brilliant end of season form in 2020/21.

A string of 10 games with eight wins and two draws ensured Liverpool third place in the Premier League and their name in Pot 2 of the Champions League draw.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp fielded a somewhat changed side from the one which hammered Leeds 3-0 at Elland Road over the weekend. Divock Origi was handed a surprise start, his first home start since that forgettable 1-0 loss to Burnley at Anfield last January. 

Joe Gomez replaced Virgil van Dijk in the heart of the defence, Klopp clearly careful not to overwork the Dutchman. Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson were the last two changes, and they replaced Harvey Elliot and Thiago Alcantara in the starting 11.

Harvey Elliot and Roberto Firmino remained sidelined with their respective injuries.

Liverpool vs AC Milan is a fixture that is destined to deliver. It always does. And tonight, it did.

Liverpool started sharply, scoring thought Trent Alexander-Arnold’s deflected shot off Milan’s new centre back, Fikayo Tomori.

Mere minutes later, a penalty was awarded to Liverpool, and things started going from bad to worse for Milan. Mohamed Salah, as usual, stepped up, and unbelievably enough, missed the spot kick.

It would have been this 18th consecutive successful penalty since 2017.

As the game progressed, Liverpool started to lose some of their vigor, which seemed to be absorbed by the Milan players, who scored two in two minutes right before the end of the first half. 

They had ripped apart Liverpool’s right flank of the defence.

Liverpool went into the second half in search for redemption, specifically Salah, whose missed penalty was seemingly turning out to be haunting.

The Egyptian did redeem himself and equalized. Both teams were energetic, searching deep for a winner, which ultimately was delivered by Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson. 

The Englishman’s first time hit volley hit the net as some fans got flashbacks of THAT Gerrard goal vs Olympiakos in 2005.

Gerrard-easque.

As Liverpool collected three points at full time, they soared to the top of the table after Atletico Madrid was held to a home draw by Porto. The latter welcomes Liverpool at the Estadio do Dragao in matchday two.

Here are the player ratings!

ALISSON BECKER 7.5

Milan were not particularly dangerous in the box tonight, with them barely getting opportunities. The 2 times they did, they scored, not that Alisson was to blame for them.

TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD 7

Ah, a tricky one. He was out of the world in the first 15 minutes, forcing an own goal for the opener. However, alas, his form started to decline and it was through his side that the Milan goals were conceded. 

He seemed to be trying too hard. He wasn’t horrible by any means, but his overall performance was sort of a disappointment after those first 15 minutes.

JOEL MATIP 8

Whenever Joel Matip dribbles into the opposition box, something great happens. Tonight, Henderson’s winner happened. The fact that he is a classy defender also helps.

JOE GOMEZ 7

Was at fault for one of the Milan goals, but he can’t be blamed. He was thrown at the deep end by Klopp, a young centre back playing his first competitive game in 10 months.

ANDREW ROBERTSON 8

He was absolutely brilliant tonight, and kept on making things happen.

FABINHO TAVARES 8

If Fabinho wasn’t at the middle of the park, pinching balls off the Milan players, making blocks and interceptions, the scoreline could have been uglier. What fine form the Brazilian is on.

JORDAN HENDERSON 7.5

He was not exactly world class during the game, to be honest, but he was very good. One of the better players on the pitch, his volley for the winner was something his former captain,  Steven Gerrard, would have been proud of.

NABY KEITA 7.5

A very good run out for him, and probably needs a good run of games to get on form. Starting agaisnt Crystal Palace might do him good.

DIOGO JOTA 6.5

Absolutely invisible tonight.

DIVOCK ORIGI 7

He was not great. His first touch was horrendous and his few moments of brilliance in the game was not enough. However, he did have an outstanding moment of skill when he assisted Salah for the equalizer.

MOHAMED SALAH 7.5

He “assisted” the first goal, missed the penalty, lost his head for a few minutes, and then made up by scoring a beautiful goal, a striker’s work. He could have gotten something more out of the game, it was a surprise when he got subbed off for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

SUBSTITUTES 

SADIO MANÉ 6.5

Ah Sadio, where has his confidence gone? He could have easily gotten a goal today, but it was evident how he couldn’t muster the courage to shoot.

THIAGO ALCANTARA N/A

He was more than alright for the few minutes he was one.

CURTIS JONES N/A

His first appearence of the season, and he actually wasn’t half bad on the left wing.

ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN N/A

JAMES MILNER N/A