Match reportLiverpool open Champions League campaign with victory at AC Milan

A goal apiece from central defensive pairing Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk gave the Reds a half-time lead, having overcome an earlier Christian Pulisic opener.

Dominik Szoboszlai then gave his side breathing room halfway through the second period to ensure Arne Slot's men got off to a winning start in the league phase of this season's competition.

Team news

Cody Gakpo and Kostas Tsimikas came in to the line-up, replacing Luis Diaz and Andy Robertson.

New signing Federico Chiesa was also named among the substitutes for the first time.

Liverpool: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister (Endo, 90+2), Salah (Chiesa, 90+2), Gakpo (Diaz, 68), Jota (Nunez, 68), Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Alexander-Arnold (Gomez, 80).

Unused subs: Jaros, Kelleher, Jones, Robertson, Quansah, Morton, Bradley.

First half

The hosts began on the front foot and had an opening goal in the third minute of the contest during their first attack of the night.

Pulisic burst down the right flank, into the box and hit a low drive into the far corner of Alisson Becker's net.

Liverpool responded to the early setback by dominating possession, though were unable to create anything clear-cut until Mohamed Salah came within inches of levelling the tie.

The No.11 danced into the area following a pass from Diogo Jota, working space for himself, before hitting a vicious effort onto the crossbar.

The Reds were buoyed by the moment and went on the attack once more, finding their leveller in minute 23 via the head of Konate.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's free-kick delivery found the central defender inside the six-yard box, with Konate guiding home the ball deservedly for the Reds.

Two minutes later with the momentum Liverpool were almost ahead, though Jota could only fire wide from close range after being fed through by Alexis Mac Allister.

Salah again hit the bar from a similar angle to his earlier opportunity, much to his frustration, with Gakpo providing some clever work in the build-up on the left to create the chance.

Gakpo again forced goalkeeper Mike Maignan into a strong save to his left ahead of Liverpool finally taking the lead through captain Van Dijk.

It was another set-piece routine that unlocked the home defence, with the skipper rising highest to power home a Tsimikas corner and give Slot's charges a half-time advantage.

Second half

The Reds began well after the break and immediately saw a chance fall to Jota inside the box after the restart.

The No.20 attempted to pounce on the loose ball and sweep home, but stopper Maignan was off his line swiftly to block, though injured himself in the process in what was his last action of the evening.

Milan attempted to find a way back into the match and wanted a penalty after Gakpo and Alvaro Morata tangled in the box, but protests were swiftly waved away by the match officials.

It was Liverpool, however, who would be next to add to the scoreline thanks to a swift breakaway with the hosts caught short at the back.

Gakpo drove forward in the 67th minute, delivered well and Szoboszlai had matched his run into the middle to guide home a cushioned volley in off the post.

In response to the two-goal lead, Darwin Nunez and Diaz were introduced from the bench.

The Reds continued to push forward in search of a fourth with Van Dijk again going close with a header from another corner delivery.

There was still time for Milan to threaten in the closing stages too, Tijjani Reijnders shooting a low drive past the diving Alisson's far post.

Substitute Matteo Gabbia also planted a header over the bar following a short-corner routine, while Rafael Leao saw a chance pushed onto the post by Alisson, though it was as near as either side came to adding to the score further before the full-time whistle.