A SENSATIONAL RETURN TO EUROPEAN NIGHTS AT ANFIELD

Henderson's pile driving shot sealed the win for Liverpool

A return to the classic European nights at Anfield is something that both Liverpool and neutral fans have been dying to see back. A game of great anticipation and excitement and it didn’t disappoint.

Liverpool turned around a halftime deficit to destroy any hopes of a Milan victory at Anfield. A 51,000 strong crowd at the home of European classics and the atmosphere was electric with the rousing chorus of You’ll Never Walk Alone billowing around the stadium.

The game began with what some would say is Liverpool at the peak of their powers, constant pressure on the AC Milan defence from the first whistle some much so that Liverpool had the lead after just 9 minutes after Alexander-Arnolds burst of pace into the box was deflected in by from Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori.

Liverpool also got a penalty after 13 minutes after an AC Milan player handled the ball in the area. Mo Salah stepped up and… missed it! It’s only the second time in his Liverpool career that he hasn’t scored from the spot the first was the first penalty he took for the Reds, since then he scored 17 in a row.

The continuous pressure from Jurgen Klopp’s men continued minute after minute in the first half and after 30 minutes of heavy metal football, Liverpool according to the manager post-match got ‘carried away with our performance’. That was accurate as Liverpool became less organised at the back with everyone piling forward.

It was the final 5 minutes of the first half that would send shockwaves around Anfield. Liverpool leave too much for Milan to drive into and Rebic knocks in an equaliser from 6 yards and another defensive lapse of judgment led to a second for Milan before the break finished off by Brahim Diaz.

A difficult halftime team talk for Klopp to make as his side had battered Milan in the first 30 minutes of the game and the stats proved it. 14 attempts, 5 on target, 1 goal and 10 corners. However, his side found themselves behind at the break and duly bewildered by what had just happened.

The second half commenced and again Liverpool looking to come out all guns blazing once more with an equalising goal from Mo Salah just 4 minutes into the second period. It came from a fantastic ball over the defence from Divock Origi, who made his first start since January, and the Egyptian King knocked it home for 2-2.

It wasn’t over yet though. Liverpool continued to apply more and more pressure without tiring, it was like a clockwork machine, attack after attack after attack. Milan again had to deal with more corners and now even Joel Matip, Liverpool’s centre-back, was making runs into the box.

Matip’s run and pass to Jota who shot at the Milan goal and it deflected led to Liverpool’s 13th corner of the game and it was lucky number 13 for the Reds. Captain Jordan Henderson hit first time on the half volley from the corner clearance, into the bottom corner of the net and Anfield erupted with noise.

The Reds had overturned a 2-1 deficit to fight back and score two in the second period against a compact and controlled AC Milan defence. A possible sighting of the ‘old Liverpool’ and the team that never gives up and always goes to the end.

Could Klopp’s mentality monsters be returning from their year-long slumber? Well, it seems likely. Liverpool are now unbeaten in the first 5 of the season (4W 1D).

Next up for the Reds is Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace who come to Merseyside on Saturday. A quick turnaround for Liverpool but with a few changes last night and with Van Dijk not making an appearance from the start or from the bench he is certain to start at the weekend.

No respite from Milan either as they have another classic match on the cards this weekend as they face Juventus in Serie A. They also were unbeaten starting their season before they visited Anfield so they’ll be looking to bounce back from an ultimately disappointing result away from home.