AC Milan boss Pioli explains what he found ‘remarkable’ about Liverpool

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Stefano Pioli has paid tribute to a “great” Liverpool side after AC Milan’s 3-2 Champions League defeat at Anfield last night, singling out the “remarkable intensity” of Jurgen Klopp’s side in quotes reported by Tuttomercatoweb.

Looking at the 3-2 scoreline, you’d be forgiven for assuming the first ever Anfield meeting between two European powerhouses was an end-to-end, ding-dong encounter with a barrage of chances in both boxes.

Well, not quite.

Apart from that dramatic two-minute spell at the end of the first half, when Milan turned a one-goal deficit into a 2-1 lead thanks to strikes from Ante Rebic and Brahim Diaz against the run of play, Liverpool dominated in front of a stirring crowd. The Reds asphyxiated their opponents with a relentless high press while outnumbering Pioli’s Serie A pace-setters in the middle of the park.

Liverpool mustered 23 shots to Milan’s seven, dominated 62 per cent of the possession and accumulated 15 corners.

In fact, if it wasn’t for visiting goalkeeper Mike Maignan and some last-ditch Simon Kjaer defending, the Reds could have scored four, five, even six.

Milan boss Pioli: Liverpool are a ‘great opponent’

“We have faced a great opponent. Of course, Liverpool are at the top, whereas we are still missing something. We will use these games to grow and move forward in the competition,” says former Inter and Lazio boss Pioli, whose side was eventually defeated by a stunning volley from the terrific Jordan Henderson.

“We are the youngest team in the group, with the fewest appearances in the Champions League. (The game was) difficult because Liverpool are a very strong team, they are used to these games.

“Liverpool played with very high intensity. Physically, their intensity is remarkable. In some situations, I think we had to do better, especially with the ball, trying to skip their pressure less.

“We could have done more dynamism. We did it later, during the match (but) we shouldn’t have conceded the goal that put Liverpool back in the game.”

A Fikayo Tomori own-goal and a fine finish by Mo Salah, set up brilliantly by Divock Origi, set Liverpool on their way to victory before Henderson’s scorcher.