AC Milan had a dream start when David Beckham’s free kick was struck by Ronaldinho, which took a deflection into the goal. Manchester United came onto the score sheets with a strange goal from Paul Scholes in the 35th minute.

After the break United came out all guns ablaze and took the challenge to the opposition. Sub Antonio Valencia’s cross allowed Rooney to jump in between the centerbacks to head home his first for the night and United’s second. Roo added another 8 minutes later, this was also scored from a header.

Rooney heads in his first goal

With 6 minutes remaining in the match, Clarence Seedorf scored an amazing back-heel. Milan ended with two goals. The score read 3-2 in United’s favour.

Milan are without their right-back Massimo Oddo and manager Leonardo is hinting that Beckham could start in defence.

He said:

“I would be happy to play in any position, in defence, in attack.”

Beckham commented:

“I am not expected to start the games. I just want to be part of the team. Players are not jealous. They were happy to see me back. My experience with the club was so special for six months. It was one of the best six months of my career. I missed the team, the players, the fans. The group is very similar. It is the same at Manchester United, it never changes.”

Becks also said that he almost cried when he saw Milan were drawn against Manchester United. On this he stated:

“I have never returned to Old Trafford in seven years. I miss it every day. I miss being a Manchester United player, I miss the club, I miss the fans and friends at the club. It has always had a special place in my heart. It is business. We want to win the game.”

He stated that he wants to add an Italian league title to his list of awards:

“To win a title is my number one wish. To win a title with AC Milan. I don’t think the league has lost any charm. Definitely not.”

The Reds have allowed late goals in both their Champions League matches against Lyon and now Fiorentina, which has damaged their chances of qualifying to the knockout stage. Both Lyon and Fiorentina have made it to the next round.
In the post match conference Rafael Benitez said:

“The result and the way it happened just about sums up our Champions League campaign. Another last minute goal, and we are disappointed with that for the third time in this group. Now we must be ready for the next game at home to Arsenal on Sunday. We worked so hard, we had chances, so they are the only positive that we can take from the game.”

Although there were positives that Liverpool can take from this match, Torres returned from a groin injury and Aquiliani made his full debut for the club.

Benitez commented:

“Aquilani showed his quality, his touch was good. His vision and passing were good, but obviously he will have to work on his match fitness.”

“Everyone is available for Sunday, if he trains well he could well be involved against Arsenal. We are still trying to see the positives, we are playing better and we must now must take that into a very important game. It is the beginning of a new season for us now, I hope.”

Liverpool have also learnt that they will not be seeded in the Europa League next season.

“We will not be seeded in the Europa League, we must cope with that and be strong to handle what ever comes our way now,”

Benitez added.

Beckham had missed the start of the campaign after securing an extension to his loan deal with AC Milan until the end of the Serie A season in Italy, and while he was away, a book entitled ‘The Beckham Experiment’ was published exposing rifts between him and Donovan, who questioned the England midfielder’s commitment to the Galaxy.

As the controversy ensued, Beckham was booed by some Galaxy fans on his return to the Home Depot Centre in July, but since then the 34-year-old has mended his relationship with Donovan and helped turn his team from last-placed finishers in 2008 to Western Conference champions.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid ace, who will rejoin AC Milan on 28 December in a second loan deal, refused to make an issue of his difficult start to the season with LA Galaxy, instead saying the friction with Donovan had been beneficial. Beckham told ESPN:

“I don’t have to say anything about myself, I’ll leave that to other people to decide. But I love playing soccer, I work hard for my team and my team-mates, and myself and my manager and the fans, and I hope that’s enough for people. But there’s nothing wrong with a bit of controversy in a club. It brings players and teams together and it’s done that.”

Alexi Lalas hailed the Galaxy for finally making Beckham’s move to MLS a success. The former USA defender was the club’s managing director when the free-kick specialist arrived in Los Angeles in July 2007, only for the player to spend his first half-season hampered with injury problems.

The Galaxy failed to improve in Beckham’s first full season at the club and, having fired two head coaches in Frank Yallop and Ruud Gullit, team owners AEG also jettisoned Lalas, bringing in Bruce Arena as coach and director of football. He could not prevent the Galaxy finishing with the worst record in MLS in 2008, but the turnaround in 2009 has impressed Lalas.

“You talk about the ‘Beckham Experiment’, well, when you do an experiment it’s trial and error and the Galaxy have got it right in terms of what they’ve done on and off the field this year,” Lalas said on ESPN. “They made wholesale changes at the end of last year, got rid of Ruud Gullit, made some other changes, got rid of yours truly and a lot of different things but ultimately the organisation is right back where it needs to be and that’s important for the Galaxy fans and they’re the most important in all of this.”

The star has boosted his fortune by endorsing a range of products, including Armani and Adidas. His firm- Footwork Productions enjoyed a massive cash injection.

Becks has topped the richest footballer’s list, compiled by France Football magazine with total earnings of $42.7 million in 2008. Barcelona’s Lionel Messi(22) came in at No. 2 with $37.7 million, while Milan’s Ronaldinho(29) was third with $25.8 million. FIFA World Player of the Year winner Cristiano Ronaldo came in at fourth with $24.1 million.

The top 10 highest-paid players for 2008:
1. David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy/AC Milan): $42.7 million
2. Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona): $37.7 million
3. Ronaldinho (AC Milan): $25.8 million
4. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United): $24.1 million
5. Thierry Henry (FC Barcelona): $22.4 million
6. Kaká (AC Milan): $19.9 million
7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan): $19.9 million
8. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United): $17.8 million
9. Frank Lampard (Chelsea): $17.1 million
10. John Terry (Chelsea): $15.4 million