Slot praises Liverpool for response to Forest defeat with impressive Milan victory

Liverpool boss Arne Slot expressed his delight with his team’s response against AC Milan on Tuesday night following their shock Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest last weekend.

In their opening Champions League match at the San Siro, the Reds got off to a very poor start, falling behind within three minutes after being caught off guard defensively.

Former Chelsea attacker Christian Pulisic took advantage of the lapse in concentration, sprinting through and scoring with a low shot into the far corner.

However, Slot’s side rallied well after that setback with Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai all scoring before the final whistle to secure a convincing 3-1 victory.

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Slot celebrates birthday with Champions League victory

With this match coming only a few days on from their Premier League loss at Anfield, going behind early put the Reds under severe pressure and Slot admitted he could not be sure how his side would respond to conceding as early as they did.

“After losing on Saturday, which was quite a blow for us to be honest, and then to be 1-0 down after five minutes, and an early chance as well, although it was offside. You’re always wondering how the team reacts.

“I think we showed how good we can be on the ball. That’s what I said after the game, if you can play so good, it’s almost… maybe to use the word disgrace is too much, but it’s unbelievable that you lose to Forest at home if you can play this well today.”

With the game coinciding with the Dutchman’s 46th birthday, the Reds manager revealed his delight to toast to a well-earned victory on his special day.

He said: ‘Normally you celebrate with your family. But this was a really good alternative. A special club at a nice venue and the way we won it, 1-0 down after five minutes with Nottingham Forest (defeat on Saturday) in our head. Very good to see how we took the game.”

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Van Dijk comments on opening-round victory

In his post-match interview, the Reds’ captain and goal-scorer on the night Virgil van Dijk hailed his side’s calmness in making an impressive start to their European campaign.

“It was very disappointing during the weekend in so many ways,” Van Dijk said.

“Especially the last part of that game, it was very frustrating to witness and to be part of. But we had a chance to put it right and I think we did.

“Shaky start with the goal that we conceded, everywhere we were late and they capitalised on it. But after that, the way we stayed calm and kept playing, kept looking for the solution, that was very good to see.”

Liverpool will next play Bologna at home in this competition, before facing a challenging sequence of matches against RB Leipzig, Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen.

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