European football giants AC Milan and Liverpool are set to renew their historic rivalry as they clash in the opening match of the Champions League’s new league phase at San Siro on Tuesday night.
Both clubs enter the competition under new management, with Paulo Fonseca at the helm for Milan and Arne Slot leading Liverpool, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this high-profile encounter.
Recent Form:
AC Milan comes into the match buoyed by their first Serie A win of the season, a commanding 4-0 victory over Venezia. The result marked a significant turnaround for Fonseca’s side, who had struggled in their opening three league fixtures.
Liverpool, conversely, suffered their first setback of the season with a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, ending their perfect start to the campaign.
Historical Context:
The fixture resurrects memories of two Champions League finals between the clubs. Liverpool’s miraculous comeback in Istanbul in 2005 was avenged by Milan in Athens two years later. More recently, Liverpool won both group stage encounters in the 2021-22 season.
Team News:
AC Milan will be without several key players due to injuries. Ismael Bennacer, Alessandro Florenzi, and Marco Sportiello are confirmed absentees, while Malick Thiaw is doubtful with an ankle sprain. Davide Calabria faces a late fitness test.
Liverpool’s new signing Federico Chiesa is unlikely to feature as he continues to build fitness. Harvey Elliott is ruled out with a foot fracture. Manager Slot may rotate his squad given the quick turnaround from Saturday’s match, with Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez potentially starting.
Possible Starting Lineups:
AC Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson, Gabbia, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Reijnders, Fofana; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Abraham
Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo
Key Battle:
The matchup between Milan’s resurgent attack, led by Rafael Leao and Tammy Abraham, against Liverpool’s typically solid defense could be crucial. Liverpool’s backline, anchored by Virgil van Dijk, will need to be at their best to contain Milan’s fluid front line.
Managers’ Perspective:
Paulo Fonseca, AC Milan manager: “We’ve turned a corner with our performance against Venezia. The Champions League is a different beast, but we’re ready for the challenge Liverpool presents.”
Arne Slot, Liverpool manager: “We’re disappointed with the Forest result, but the Champions League offers a quick opportunity to bounce back. Milan at San Siro is always a special occasion, and we’re prepared for a tough battle.”
Historical Stat:
AC Milan has avoided defeat in their last four Champions League matches against English clubs. They’ve never gone five such games unbeaten in the competition.
Match Prediction:
Despite Milan’s recent domestic success and Liverpool’s weekend setback, the visitors’ European pedigree and depth of talent make them slight favorites. However, San Siro has often been a challenging venue for English clubs.
Predicted Score: AC Milan 1-2 Liverpool
The match kicks off at 21:00 local time (CET) at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy. It promises to be a captivating start to both teams’ Champions League campaigns in the new league phase format.
