A much-changed Liverpool side made history as they came from behind to win 2-1 against AC Milan.
Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi grabbed the goals for Jurgen Klopp’s side, who became the first English side to win all six of their Champions League group games.
Despite Milan knowing that a victory could have earned them a place in the last 16, had other results gone their way, it was the Reds who still came away with another three points.
Having made eight changes from the side that played Wolves at the weekend, here is how the national media reacted to Liverpool ’s win at the San Siro.
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‘Liverpool make it six wins from six after Salah and Origi hit back at Milan’
Andy Hunter of The Guardian wrote:
In a group of European heavyweights only Liverpool, ultimately, lived up to the billing. Jürgen Klopp’s makeshift team made light work of Milan, just as more recognisable lineups had of Atlético Madrid and Porto, as Liverpool became the first English team to win all six games in a Champions League group.
Mohamed Salah added to his extensive collection of milestones by registering his 20th goal of the season as Liverpool came from behind to beat the Italian giants with something to spare. So much to spare, in fact, that Klopp gave the 18-year-old academy graduates Conor Bradley and Max Woltman late cameos to cherish at San Siro.
Divock Origi, the “legend” as his manager likes to describe him, secured the clean sweep with his second winner in four days. Liverpool made a mockery of a supposedly troublesome group, finishing 11 points clear of the Spanish champions, 13 clear of the joint leaders of the Primeira Liga and 14 clear of the leaders of Serie A.
‘Liverpool complete historic clean sweep as AC Milan are dumped out’
Mike McGrath of The Telegraph wrote:
Divock Origi’s status as a Liverpool cult hero was established well before this week but at San Siro he added another entry to his showreel of significant goals.
Four days after rescuing his team-mates with a last-gasp winner at Wolves, here he stooped to head in a winner that ensured Jürgen Klopp’s side became the first English team to progress from the Champions League group stage with a 100 per cent record.
It may not have been as memorable as his goal in the 2019 final, but Origi keeps reminding us of his class off the bench.
Klopp says being a world-class player does not mean being a regular for Liverpool. Origi is proof of that.
‘Liverpool’s second string see off Milan to make Champions League history’
Melissa Reddy of The Independent wrote:
In the end, Liverpool laughed in the face of the Group of Death while becoming the only English team to ever post a 100 per cent record at this stage of the Champions League.
Milan were the latest to bow to Jurgen Klopp’s men, in rather meek fashion too, following Atletico Madrid and Porto.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ibrahima Konate were particularly impressive on a night where Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the lion, seemed to be sleeping.
You could have been forgiven for watching the match in the belief that Liverpool were the team playing for a Champions League lifeline, not the ones gracing San Siro armed with a clean sweep of group victories.
An In Need of Minutes XI, complemented with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Alisson dominated and dictated proceedings, while Milan were content with letting the game happen to them which was curious considering their need to win.
‘Liverpool and Mohamed Salah still a perfect match as appetites for glory and goals merge’
David Maddock of The Mirror wrote:
Even Liverpool’s reserves have a taste for European conquest.
Jurgen Klopp made eight changes from the last game, but still a youthful looking side were too much Milan, who looked a little out of their depth on this stage.
Divock Origi marked a rare start with his second goal in four days to win the match and make the Reds the first English team to win all six of their Champions League group games.
But inevitably, it was Mohamed Salah who was the real difference, as he taunted the poor Italians, and turned the game with a brilliant finish to level Fikayo Tomori’s opener in the first half.
‘Reds maintain 100% Champions League record with comeback win at San Siro’
Dominic King of The Daily Mail wrote:
High up in the stands, as the clock ran down, a group of travelling Liverpool fans unfurled a red banner across green tarpaulin to make it stand out.
‘Campione Liverpool,’ it read, simply, and once again you came away from a night in Europe thinking that declaration will ring true in St Petersburg next May. Beating AC Milan in the San Siro might not be the scalp of old but that should not detract from the achievement.
Liverpool, thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi, came from behind to ensure they topped Group B – the one that had been labelled the ‘Group of Death’ – with a 100 per cent record. Be in no doubt, their rivals for the biggest trophy of them all will have taken that all on board.
