Just as we didn’t overreact after the match against Arsenal, despite it being fair to point out some clear technical shortcomings, we shouldn’t make the opposite mistake today. The 4-2 win over Liverpool, reigning champions of England, still falls under the category of summer football, July football, no less.
That said, the notable improvements compared to the previous outing against the Gunners are clear. This afternoon, Milan looked like a real team: compact, cohesive, united, and sharp. Technical gestures stood out, finally effective and clean, leading to the goals. Ball recovery in dangerous zones, vertical passes sought and found with the right intent, and individual brilliance (Leao, Pulisic, and Loftus especially shining) completely disoriented the Reds' defense.
Some might say we’ve already seen hints of Allegri-style football; others will argue this is simply the kind of football Milan should have been playing for some time. For now, it’s a style that seems capable of giving confidence and identity to a team whose performances have been far too inconsistent in recent years. There is a need to rediscover certainty, and matches like this, even in the summer, can help achieve that. Special mention goes to the central defenders, all of them, lined up in a back three, protected by a dense midfield and two hard-working wing-backs. Under normal circumstances, they held their own even against the likes of Salah and company. Slot’s Liverpool had more of the play, but Milan was far more focused in the key moments. The 4-2 final score is anything but misleading.
Let’s now look at the standouts and the ones who didn’t quite convince.
The standout players at AC Milan:
Rafa Leao: A performance worthy of a true number 10. He carried the team’s offensive play and, crucially, was effective in the areas of the pitch where it really counts. A stunning goal and a brilliant assist. Everyone hopes Allegri is the right coach to bring out his best consistently. When he plays like this, he’s simply unplayable.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek: Today, we finally saw a player unafraid to go into duels and showcase his extraordinary physical power. Involved and proactive in the attacking phase, he tore the Reds apart with his runs both on and off the ball. He scored a well-taken, deserved goal. The hope is to see more of this version of him.
The final "standout" is not a player but the technical quality that the team finally displayed today. Pulisic, Okafor, Saelemaekers, Ricci, Leao, Loftus… all the key players managed to raise the technical level of their play. That’s exactly what everyone expects, because there’s a strong belief that this squad isn’t as poor as some claim, and that belief has always been there. Now we’ll see how long it lasts.
Who needs to improve?
Pervis Estupiñán: Came on and immediately had to deal with a rampant Frimpong, after just two training sessions with Milan and still adjusting to a new time zone. The Dutchman outmuscled him, and Estupiñán struggled a bit in response. Still, he looked comfortable on the ball, he’ll improve, as relayed via Milannews.it.
