Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has struck a rare Champions League goal to earn his side a 3-2 victory over AC Milan in a rip-roaring Group B opener at a rocking Anfield.
Henderson rifled home in the 69th minute to settle an absorbing contest between the two European heavyweights, whose only two previous meetings had been in finals.
With Anfield welcoming back fans for a Champions League night for the first time in 18 months, Liverpool threatened to run riot, when Fikayo Tomori's own-goal handed them an early lead in a barnstorming start.
Remarkably, after weathering a storm that included a Mohamed Salah penalty miss, Milan struck twice in quick succession at the end of the first half, with Ante Rebic and Brahim Diaz silencing the home crowd.
Milan then had a goal disallowed shortly after the break, before Salah made amends for his penalty miss by equalising from close range in the 49th minute.
The outcome was still in doubt, until Henderson capped a memorable night with a thumping effort - only his second in the competition and first for seven years.
Milan's return to Europe's top club competition after seven years began in torrid fashion, as the seven-time champions were initially overwhelmed.
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic unavailable and several players making their Champions League debut, Milan looked ill-equipped to compete and fell behind in the ninth minute, when Trent Alexander-Arnold got in on the right side of the area, and his cross struck former Chelsea player Tomori and beat keeper Mike Maignan.
Before Milan could clear their heads, they conceded a penalty, when Ismael Bennacer blocked Andy Robertson's shot with his arm, but Maignan dived to his right to keep out Salah's penalty.
For only the second time in 19 attempts, Salah failed to convert a spot-kick and it proved a turning point.
Salah fired over and Joel Matip headed straight at Maignan, as the chances kept coming, but Liverpool were rocked on their heels, as Milan turned the game on its head.
For the first time, Liverpool's high press relented and Milan worked the ball neatly forward, before Franck Kessie's pass played in Rebic to sweep a low shot past Alisson.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp wore a wry smile after that, but one minute and 48 seconds later, he looked stunned.
Milan attacked down the left again, with Kessie and Rebic combining to set up Alexis Saelemaekers, whose shot was blocked on the line by Robertson, only for Diaz to pounce and convert.
Liverpool's predicament could have been worse a minute after the restart, when Saelemaekers scored from close range from a corner, but an offside flag spared Liverpool.
The frantic pace continued and Liverpool were level in the 48th minute, as Divock Origi scooped a ball over Milan's defence for Salah to dink a bouncing ball past Maignan for his 14th Champions League goal at Anfield, equalling Steven Gerrard's record.
Milan did well to soak up Liverpool pressure, but they finally cracked, when a corner was cleared to the edge of the area and Henderson smashed the ball home.
MANCHESTER CITY OVERWHELM LEIPZIG
Manchester City - last season's Champions League runners-up - have crushed RB Leipzig 6-3 in a thrilling Group A game, as Christopher Nkunku scored a hat-trick for the German side.
After a hugely entertaining match at the Etihad Stadium, City manager Guardiola will be happy with the three points, but will be concerned about the spaces his team left for the German side to exploit on the break.
Nkunku became only the fourth player to score a Champions League treble on the losing side and he deserved his player-of-the-match award, as Leipzig showed real spirit to keep fighting back against City's impressive firepower.
Defender Nathan Ake put City ahead in the 16th minute with a header from a Jack Grealish corner and the hosts doubled the lead 12 minutes later, when Kevin De Bruyne left three defenders for dead, before his deep cross was headed into his own net by Leipzig defender Nordi Mukiele.
Leipzig got back in the game with a 42nd-minute header from Nkunku, only for City to restore their two-goal advantage on the stroke of halftime.
Lukas Klostermann was ruled to have handled, after the referee went to the pitchside monitor to check the incident, and Riyad Mahrez blasted home the spot-kick.
Leipzig were not deterred and Nkunku reduced the deficit again in the 51st minute by heading in a cross from the excellent Spanish midfielder Dani Olmo.
Grealish then delivered a wonderful solo goal to mark his first European club appearance, collecting the ball on the left flank and jinking inside, before giving Peter Gulacsi no chance with a curling shot into the far corner.
The City fans could be forgiven for thinking that was that, but French forward Nkunku kept the game alive, completing his hat-trick with a crisp drive, after being set up by Yussuf Poulsen.
Incredibly, City responded immediately with an unstoppable long-range drive from Portuguese fullback Joao Cancelo and any hopes the visitors had of a comeback ended, when when former City fullback Angelino was sent off in the 79th minute.
Substitute Gabriel Jesus added the sixth from close range five minutes from time and the home crowd were delighted with the display of Grealish, in front of his England manager Gareth Southgate.
"I loved it," Grealish says of his first taste of the competition. "I've been waiting a while.
"The past few weeks, I couldn't wait for this game. It's a great night.
"It was one of those games, it had absolutely everything. In the end, we're delighted to get the win against a good team full of energy and young players.
City lead the group on three points, after Paris St Germain were held to a 1-1 draw at Club Brugge in their opener.
Reuters
