Liverpool Roll Past AC Milan as Part of Six-Game Champions League Openers

Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool FC celebrates his goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between AC Milan and Liverpool FC at Stadio San Siro in Milan, Italy, on Sept. 17, 2024. Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

American Christian Pulisic scored in the third minute, but AC Milan could not keep pace with Liverpool the rest of the way as the Reds ran away with a 3–1 victory in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The two European soccer powers headlined a slate of six games in the revamped competition’s opener.

Liverpool caught AC Milan flat-footed and scored on two set pieces in the first half. Ibrahima Konaté scored off a free kick from Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 23rd minute. Then, Virgil van Dijk knocked in a header on a corner kick from Kostas Tsimikas in the 41st minute. The score could have been more lopsided, but Liverpool striker Mo Salah hit the crossbar twice.

Visiting Liverpool added a third goal in the 67th minute when Dominik Szoboszlai scored from the center of the penalty area off a pass from Cody Gakpo on a counterattack.

It was a good day for Americans playing abroad as U.S. international Weston McKennie scored in the 27th minute, helping Juventus roll to a 3–1 victory over visiting Dutch power PSV Eindhoven. Kenan Yildiz and Nicolás González also scored for the Italian club, which put six of its 15 shots on goal. Ismael Saibari salvaged a goal for Eindhoven in extra time. It was a solid start for Juventus, which is a long shot to win the competition.

Under the new format, the Champions League increased the number of teams participating from 32 to 36. Teams play eight matches instead of six in the new league phase—previously called the group stage. The qualifying squads no longer play three opponents twice—home and away—but instead face fixtures against eight different teams, playing half of those matches at home and half away.

The defending champions, Real Madrid, cruised past visiting VfB Stuttgart 3–0 on goals by Kylian Mbappé (46th minute), Antonio Rüdiger (83rd minute) and Endrick in extra time. Deniz Undav scored a goal in the 68th minute for Stuttgart, which was under pressure for much of the game.

In other action, visiting Aston Villa returned to the Champions League for the first time in 41 years and had a scintillating performance. The Hammers, who qualified after finishing fourth in the English Premier League last season, had a decisive 3–0 victory over Swiss club Young Boys. Youri Tielemans opened the scoring in the 27th minute, and Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana scored in the second half to secure the victory.

Harry Kane continued his scoring prowess and scored a hat trick in a one-sided 9–2 victory over visiting Dinamo Zagreb. Kane became England’s all-time leading scorer in the Champions League with 33 goals, surpassing Wayne Rooney (30). It was also the most goals Bayern Munich scored in a Champions League match. Raphaël Guerreiro, Michael Olise, Leroy Sané, and Leon Goretzka also scored for the German powerhouse.

Zeno Debast had the goal of the day for host Sporting Lisbon when he rocketed a right-footed shot from 30 yards into the top left corner of the goal in the 65th minute. Viktor Gyökeres gave Lisbon the lead with a goal in the 38th minute in an easy victory over Lille.