It was not an easy looking fixture to kick off their Champions League campaign. Milan may not be the beast of old, but they were still heading into the game on the back of a 4-0 win.
Liverpool started badly, too. Thankfully, they did not panic after going behind early doors and bounced back in excellent fashion. 3-1 the final score. The result was made all the more special by the fact it came as Arne Slot celebrated his 46th birthday.
And speaking after the game, Slot said the three points was not the only gift given to him by the Liverpool squad. Arne Slot reveals gift from Liverpool squadIt is surprisingly rare that a manager oversees a win in the Champions League on their birthday.As per a little statistic highlighted by liverpoolfc.com, Slot became just the fourth boss to achieve the feat.
Joining Bobby Robson, Roberto Mancini and Arsene Wenger, the Dutchman is certainly in good company.As any manager worth their salt will tell you, three points and a good performance from their team is the very best birthday gift a coach can receive.
But as well as delivering that with aplomb in Milan, Slot told TNT Sports that his Liverpool players even went the extra mile for him as well.“A small, how would you say, cake,” replied the newly 46-year-old when asked if his team had given him anything special.
Yes, they gave me a cake, I think desert is the word to use – a tiramisu – and they sang for me.“But I liked more the way they played than how they sang!” Slot added with a laugh.What next for Liverpool in the Champions League?There is more than one reason for Liverpool supporters to be a little unsure what to expect from their Champions League campaign this year.
As well as obviously having a brand new boss at the helm for the first time in almost a decade, the competition itself has changed its structure.Instead of the regular 4-team group stage, Liverpool are competing in a mega 36-club table. As part of that, the Reds will face eight different teams, four at home and four away.
Having gotten perhaps the most difficult away game out of the way on Tuesday, Liverpool will be back at Anfield for the next matchday; they face Bologna on Wednesday October the 2nd.After that, it’s RB Leipzig away on October 23rd, before Xabi Alonso returns home with Bayer Leverkusen on Bonfire Night. Plenty to look forward to after a memorable night in Italy.
