Liverpool kick off Champions League campaign with 3-1 win over AC Milan

MILAN : Liverpool celebrated their return to the Champions League after a year's absence with a 3-1 victory over AC Milan at San Siro on Tuesday, overcoming a shaky start with goals from Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Liverpool got off to an awful start in the battle between the two European heavyweights when Christian Pulisic fired Milan in front from a quick counter-attack in the third minute, aided by Liverpool's disorganised defending.

The six-times champions turned things around, however, and dominated for much of the remainder of the game, with Konate equalising in the 23rd minute when he leapt high above a crowd of defenders to head in Trent Alexander-Arnold's free kick.

Skipper Van Dijk put Liverpool ahead to the delight of some 4,400 travelling fans when he nodded home Kostas Tsimikas' corner just before halftime. Szoboszlai sealed the victory in the 67th minute, slotting into the far corner from Cody Gakpo's cross after Milan gave up possession.

The night marked coach Arne Slot's first Champions League game at the helm of the Merseyside club since he replaced Juergen Klopp, and it was a terrific response from his team after their shock 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday.