“It was like he was in an induced coma” - Ex-Premier League defender slams AC Milan superstar for poor display in loss to Liverpool

Former Wimbledon defender Kenny Cunningham has slammed AC Milan star Rafa Leao following his poor performance against Liverpool in their UEFA Champions League clash. The Portuguese international featured in his side's 3-1 defeat against Arne Slot's Reds on Tuesday (September 17).

AC Milan opened the scoring at the San Siro in the third minute, thanks to a lovely finish from Christian Pulisic. However, the Italian side were not able to sustain their early momentum as Liverpool bounced back and eventually clinched a 3:1 win.

Goals from Ibrahim Konate, Virgil Van Dijk, and a 67th-minute strike from Dominik Szoboslai were enough to seal an empathic away win for Slot's side, who have had a good start to their Champions League campaign.

Former Wimbledon and Birmingham defender, Cunningham couldn't hold back his frustration at AC Milian winger Leao after the game. Cunningham, who was on match-day commentary for Premsport Tv, stated the 23-year-old Portuguese international was not an elite player. He said:

“This lad is talked up like ‘Oh, elite player.’ There’s a reason he’s at AC Milan and not one of the very best clubs in Europe because he turns up one game in every three. It's like Leo was in an induced Coma for the first 40 minutes. This lad isn’t an elite player."

AC Milan manager Paulo Fonseca admitted after the game that the visitors Liverpool were the better side. He said, as quoted by The Independent:

"I don’t think we lacked the right attitude. I believe we started well but, after conceding, the team lost balance and started making mistakes, which are decisive against a team like Liverpool. I have to say that Liverpool were better.”

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Liverpool manager pleased with his side's comeback against AC Milan

Arne Slot was delighted with his team's effort in overcoming an early scare from Italian giants Milan during their opening Champions League game of the season at San Siro.

The Reds, who suffered their first loss of the season over the weekend against Nottingham Forest, were able to bounce back and win by an empathic 3-1 scoreline against Milan. Slot's men showed character to overturn Pulisic's opener and secure all three points.

After the game, the Dutch tactician, who coincidentally turned 46 yesterday, revealed that he was pleased with his side's performance against Milan and said (via Football365):

"The way we won it, 1-0 down after five mins with Forest in our head was very good to see. The way the players took the game in their hands to win it 3-1. I think we were a bit disappointed with the Forest result, getting eight corners and not scoring."

"We felt with all the work we put in for set-pieces someone would get their reward. We were comfortable on the ball, hit the bar in open play, so we needed set-pieces.”

Slot continued:

"In the first four or five minutes, we lost the ball in choices which were not good to make and they could counter-attack. But afterwards, we dominated possession more and it didn’t lead to counter-attacks.”

Next up for Liverpool is a home game against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League this weekend September 21, with the Reds hoping to avoid two consecutive home defeats in the league.