The 2019 UEFA Champions League winners opened their campaign with an impressive performance, coming from behind to beat AC Milan 3-2 at Anfield.
The win was a crucial one, considering the cut-throat competition in group B, particularly after Atletico Madrid and Porto shared the spoils after a goalless draw at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Jurgen Klopp has revealed that he kept his calm towards his players at half-time last night, despite a missed penalty and conceding two goals in two minutes to throw away the lead before the break
“I wasn’t angry,” Klopp said in his post-match interview.
“We saw it coming and tried to get the message across but it didn’t work out because of the outstanding atmosphere in the stadium.
“We started complicating it. We showed the boys some things at half-time and we organized things.”
The Reds right back Trent Alexander-Arnold opened the scoresheet when his low cross was deflected into the net by Milan defender Fikayo Tomori.
Skipper Mohamed Salah wasted the chance to double the lead from the spot as his penalty was saved by goalkeeper Maignan.
Liverpool were punished for this through as a quick-fire double with Ante Rebic and Brahim Diaz on target for AC Milan before the break.
Klopp’s dressing room talk seemed to be bearing results after his side was quick to respond in the second half, Salah making amends for his 12-yard miss and setting the game back in balance just 3 minutes into the second half.
Jordan Henderson then drove a loose ball into the back of the net from outside the area, giving Liverpool an important win in their opening game of the competition.
