Liverpool made a strong comeback to the Champions League with a dominant 3-1 win against AC Milan, with manager Arne Slot responding well to doubts about his team selection.
The goals from defenders Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk turned around an early lead by Christian Pulisic for Milan, and Dominik Szoboszlai sealed the victory in the second half.
Although Mohamed Salah was unlucky to hit the crossbar twice in the first half, it was Dutch player Cody Gakpo, brought in by Slot, who stood out.
Following concerns about fatigue in the team's previous game, Slot made just two changes to the lineup, with Gakpo proving his worth over Luis Diaz. However, Kostas Tsimikas still has work to do to challenge Andy Robertson for a starting spot.
Despite Slot's emphasis on a patient passing game, Liverpool excelled in set-pieces at San Siro, utilizing the aerial abilities of Van Dijk and Konate.
Konate netted a header from Alexander-Arnold's delivery, and Van Dijk scored from a corner by Tsimikas, both demonstrating Liverpool's threat from dead-ball situations.
Pavlovic's defensive error led to Van Dijk's goal, capping off a deserved comeback by Liverpool after a shaky start.
Gakpo played a crucial role in Liverpool's third goal, underlining his impact on the team since his introduction by Slot.
Prior to kick-off, both teams paid tribute to Liverpool fan Philip Dooley, who tragically passed away, with Slot and his players wearing black armbands as a mark of respect.
While there were criticisms about lack of squad rotation, it was a player introduced by Slot who was partly at fault for Milan's goal.
Liverpool eventually settled into the game, with Salah hitting the crossbar twice early on, providing a spark for his team.
Gakpo, making his first start under Slot, contributed to Konate's equalizer before setting up chances for Jota and Salah, who also hit the woodwork.
Gakpo's involvement continued as he assisted in Van Dijk's goal, redeeming himself for his earlier mistake that led to Milan's goal.
In the second half, Liverpool remained in control, with Gakpo playing a key role in setting up Szoboszlai's goal to secure the win.
The victory allowed Slot to give a debut to Federico Chiesa, further showcasing Liverpool's depth in attacking options.