A round-up of the latest Liverpool news with Ryan Gravenberch’s verdict on Ibrahima Konate’s display at AC Milan where a Reds player left Clarence Seedorf wanting more.
Alan Shearer loved Liverpool’s midfield trio vs AC Milan
Alan Shearer offered Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch praise after watching the trio lock down the Liverpool midfield at AC Milan on Tuesday night. Their displays helped the Reds to begin the league phase of the Champions League with a 3-1 win.
The first three minutes at San Siro set alarm bells ringing on the Merseyside club’s bench as Christian Pulisic gave the Rossoneri an early lead. But goals from Ibrahima Konate (23’) and Virgil van Dijk flipped the script before the break, and Szoboszlai (67’) soon added the third.
It was the ideal way for coach Arne Slot to settle into managing Liverpool in the Champions League, and Shearer picked up their midfield for praise having been impressed by how Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch were so close to being the perfect package at San Siro.
“The midfield of Liverpool has done really well tonight, I think,” Shearer said during Amazon Prime’s coverage of the match. “Mac Allister, Gravenberch and Szoboszlai, they have offered themselves a lot when Liverpool have gone on the attack. Other than the first five minutes when Milan scored, they have given great protection, as well.”
Read more about what Shearer has had to say about Liverpool’s win over AC Milan, here.
Ryan Gravenberch hails Ibrahima Konate’s ‘crazy’ display at AC Milan
Ryan Gravenberch has led an influx of praise from the Liverpool first-team for how Ibrahima Konate played at AC Milan on Tuesday. The 25-year-old left his Reds teammates in awe after pulling them level midway through the first half before keeping the Rossoneri from replying.
Konate humbled his marker to head Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner into an empty net with AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan off his line trying to punch the ball behind the Liverpool star. It was Konate’s first goal of the 2024/25 term in his fifth appearance in all competitions.
Helping Liverpool to put three crucial early points on the UEFA leaderboard early doors saw Konate take to social media after the tie to revel in the result. He shared a post to Instagram captioned: “Big win to start the UCL campaign! Happy to score tonight and help the team!”
Konate’s post also sparked a lot of responses from the Liverpool first-team squad with Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz praising the Frenchman’s efforts. Gravenberch also praised Konate’s display at AC Milan, describing the centre-half’s game at San Siro as ‘crazy’.
Read more about what Gravenberch has said about Liverpool’s Konate vs AC Milan, here.
Cody Gakpo left Clarence Seedorf wanting more at AC Milan
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo left AC Milan icon Clarence Seedorf expecting more with his display at San Siro on Tuesday night. The Netherlands legend felt his compatriot was unable to play at his best owing to Arne Slot forcing Gakpo to play on Liverpool’s left wing all night.
Slot also took Gakpo off after 68 minutes to introduce Luis Diaz, right after his pass had led to Dominik Szoboszlai scoring. It marked the 25-year-old’s first goal involvement in a match this term after failing to score or create a goal in four Premier League games for 82 minutes.
Speaking after full-time, Seedorf put much of Gakpo’s issues at AC Milan down to Liverpool boss Slot wanting him to work from the wing. The four-time Champions League winner felt playing Gakpo through the centre would allow Liverpool to work more out of their forward.
“I like what he did in the World Cup,” Seedorf stated on Amazon Prime. “I like to give him a little bit more freedom. Playing on the left side constantly, of course he can do it. But I think you can get more out of him. He’s more restricted I believe when he plays on the wing.”
