On Tuesday, Liverpool FC (LFC) defeated AC Milan (ACM) 3-1 in their first match of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) in Milan, thanks in large part to the contributions of French striker Ibrahima Konate and Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk.

Goal.com claims that Liverpool applied early pressure at San Siro Stadium, but a risky Milan approach was thwarted by Van Dijk’s vital clearance and the ensuing offside ruling.

But Christian Pulisic of the United States beat Van Dijk and Kostas Tsimikas of Greece to score for Milan.

Liverpool FC established a groove fast. Egypt’s Mohamed Salah twice missed the crossbar, but Englishman Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free kick, which Konate headed in, gave the Reds an equalizer. Then, Van Dijk’s goal from a corner gave them the lead.

After Ryan Gravenberch of the Netherlands passed to Dominik Szoboszlai of Hungary in the second half, Liverpool secured their victory. Szoboszlai scored twice after another Dutchman, Cody Gakpo, crossed the ball.

This season is the first time the new UCL format will be used. In lieu of the customary group stage, a league phase involving 36 teams from Europe’s top football leagues will be played. Each side will play an equal number of home and away games in their eight games against eight different opponents.

The results of each game will have a big influence on the league table rankings. The UCL round of 16 will automatically be reached by the top eight clubs.

Teams that position ninth through twenty-fourth will go to a two-leg knockout play-off round. The winners of this phase will earn the last eight slots in the round of sixteen. Teams who place worse than 24th will be disqualified from the tournament.

Olympics.com states that the knockout phases will start in February. The Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, will host the grand final on May 31, 2025.