Liverpool head coach Arne Slot celebrated his 46th birthday with a significant 3-1 victory against AC Milan in their Champions League opener, marking his European debut for the club. Despite an early setback with a goal conceded to Christian Pulisic, the team responded with goals from Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Dominik Szoboszlai, showcasing their resilience after a disappointing loss to Nottingham Forest just days prior. Slot emphasized the importance of the win over personal celebrations, stating that it was a 'really good alternative' to celebrate at such a prestigious venue. Liverpool also paid tribute to a fan, Philip Dooley, who tragically died in a traffic accident while traveling to the match, with the team wearing black armbands in his honor. Milan's coach Paulo Fonseca acknowledged that after losing their balance post-equalizer, the team struggled against a dominant Liverpool side. Overall, the match highlighted Liverpool's strong recovery and effective set-piece execution after a tough prior match.