‘One of the candidates’: AC Milan boss pays tribute to wonderful Liverpool

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Stefani Pioli has admitted that there was an almighty gulf in class between AC Milan and Liverpool during their 2-1 Champions League group-stage defeat to Jurgen Klopp’s men at the San Siro, speaking via Milan News. 

A penny for Diego Simeone’s thoughts when the Liverpool team news was revealed on Tuesday afternoon. 

Simeone’s Atletico Madrid side needed a favour from the Premier League giants as they looked to follow the rampant Reds into the last-16.

Klopp’s starting XI, however, appeared to give Milan an almighty lifeline at Atleti’s expense ahead of the final round of group-stage fixtures.

In came Ibrahima Konate, Nat Phillips, Neco Williams, Kostas Tsimikas, Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi.

There was also a third career start for 19-year-old Tyler Morton. 

But, in the end, Simeone has nothing to worry about. Liverpool’s second-string – plus the irrepressible Mo Salah and Sadio Mane – outclassed, outscored and out-fought Milan on their hallowed San Siro turf. 

Can Liverpool win the Champions League again?

The masterful Morton danced around Franck Kessie and Sandro Tonali with a balletic elegance that would not have looked out of place at the Bolshoi.

Minamino and Oxlade-Chamberlain, meanwhile, produced their finest performances of the season. And, at the back, a faultless Ibrahima Konate might have left even Zlatan himself feeling distinctly second best. 

“We have to bring home the awareness that the level in Europe is very high,” Pioli said after Milan, in their first season back in the Champions League since 2013/14, finished bottom of the group.

“I knew the difficulty of the group and of tonight’s match. There is disappointment because we wanted to stay in Europe.

“We have faced strong opponents, we’re not yet ready to compete with teams like Liverpool, who are one of the candidates to win the Champions League. We have a long way to go, we all know that.” 

Who else but Divock Origi netted the winner at the San Siro. Another big goal on a big stage for a man who added another enthralling chapter to his remarkable Anfield story.