Sports
Perfect Reds make history in UCL
AC Milan 1-2 Liverpool: Liverpool overcame a tame AC Milan 2-1 in Italy to become the first English club to win all six of their UEFA Champions League group games. Though Jürgen Klopp’s team had to fight back from a goal down to keep their perfect record in the competition, which saw the ‘Rossoneri’ relegated from Europe.
Reds make history in UCL, the Reds won all six games in Group E. This group was tagged “Group Of Death” by pundits when the draws were announced but The Reds has strolled past all the clubs in the group.
REDS MAKE HISTORY IN UCL: HOW IT HAPPENED…
The Reds, who had already qualified for the knockout stages as group champions, started Sadio Mané and Mo Salah, the latter of whom fed Nico Williams for an early goal.
Former Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori, trying to atone for his own goal in the reverse fixture, had a header saved before shooting Milan ahead in the 29th minute, got seven-time winners Milan off to the perfect start in what was a must-win game if their chances of continuing to the knockout phase were to be realized in a repetition of the 2005 and 2007 finals. finishing from close range after Alisson failed to hold onto a corner-kick throw.
Divock Origi created space in the box and fired a powerful shot that was saved by Mike Maignan. On 36 minutes, though, the Frenchman was unable to prevent the ‘Reds’ from equalizing when he palmed Alex Oxlade-shot Chamberlain into the path of Salah, who lifted the rebound into the roof of the goal. With the goal, the prolific Egyptian became the first player for the ‘Reds’ since Ian Rush to record 20+ goals in five straight seasons.
AC Milan needed a win to have a chance of making the knockout rounds, and they were incensed when Franck Kessié fell down in the box but had his penalty appeals waved away shortly after halftime. The hosts went down for the first time minutes later, and it was all their fault. Although Mané’s strong shot was stopped, it was only pushed out as far as Origi, who nodded home.
As Liverpool attempted to extend their lead, Origi headed wide, but Milan, the seven-time European Cup winners, provided little at the other end, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic scarcely getting a sniff of goal as AC Milan battled to continue their efforts. However, in the final minutes, an opportunity for the Italians went begging as Alisson superbly denied Kessié, condemning the hapless ‘Rossoneri’ to the bottom spot in Group B and Reds make history in UCL.
ENOMAOMORUYI MAN OF THE MATCH…
MO SALAH(LIVERPOOL)
NEXT UP…
On Saturday at 3 p.m., Liverpool hosts Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa in the Premier League, while AC Milan travels to Udinese in Serie A on Saturday at 7.45 p.m.
TEAM NEWS…
AC Milan made five changes from Saturday’s 2-0 win against Salernitana in Serie A, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pierre Kalulu, Sandro Tonali, Junior Messias, and Rade Krunic all returning.
Only Alisson Becker, Mohamed Salah, and Sadio Mane remained in the starting lineup as Liverpool made eight changes from the team that beat Wolves late.
JURGEN KLOPP SPEAK AFTER THE GAME TO BT Sport...
“Very proud, especially because of the sixth game to be honest. We needed fresh legs, we needed the desire to play this game, which was really difficult in the hectic schedule we have. What the boys did tonight I couldn’t be prouder. It was an incredible game.
“The performance was absolutely outstanding, playing this game having 21 shots, so many situations where we played outstandingly well and defended with passion and good organisation. So many good things I saw tonight and I’m happy.”
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