Virgil van Dijk learns from Ibrahima Konate so Liverpool can score against AC Milan again

Virgil van Dijk saw Ibrahima Konate bully his way to score for Liverpool and thought he'd do the same for the second goal against AC Milan .

The Reds found themselves 1-0 down at the San Siro after just three minutes following Christian Pulisic's opener but two quick-fire goals from Liverpool's center-back duo later in the half gave them the lead at the break.

First, Konate rose highest from a Trent Alexander-Arnold free-kick on the edge of the penalty area to head home the equalizer, using his strength and athleticism to outmuscle Milan's defense and arrive first to the ball on the 23rd-minute mark.

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Then in very similar circumstances, although this time from a corner, Van Dijk copied the same tactic used by Konate to head home Liverpool's second of the night and put them in the lead for the first time in the game.

As the clock ticked towards half-time, Van Dijk bullied Milan's defense to get himself to the front of the queue for the incoming delivery, before rising highest once more to power home a bullet header past goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

It not only showed Liverpool's dominance in the air, but also the goalscoring threat of both Konate and Van Dijk from set-pieces, especially, and how deadly they can be for the Reds going forward this season.

Both players also saw out the first-half with more reassured displays following a nervy opening 10 minutes of the tie, where a switched-off Liverpool allowed Milan to take an early lead.

Backing off from the oncoming Pulisic and allowing him to advance all the way into the penalty area before unleashing a well-placed shot, Liverpool's defending was criticized from the off.

However, the Reds didn't panic and remained level-headed, which soon enough paid off. Mohamed Salah even hit the bar in the opening half and could have easily increased Liverpool's lead.