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This Tuesday, two European football powerhouses, AC Milan and Liverpool, will renew their rivalry under the lights of the San Siro, kicking off their Champions League campaigns. Both clubs, with their illustrious histories on the continental stage, are looking to re-establish themselves among Europe's elite, with each side aiming to leave past disappointments behind. The fixture brings fresh challenges for both teams, as it marks the first Champions League outing under new management—Paulo Fonseca for AC Milan and Arne Slot for Liverpool. Both men will be under pressure to perform, hoping to set the tone for a successful European run.
Liverpool, six-time European champions, make their return to the competition after Arne Slot guided them to a top-four finish in the Premier League last season. Despite high expectations for a Europa League triumph under former boss Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool had to settle for third in the league. Nonetheless, Slot now faces the task of leading them through a revamped group stage in the Champions League. Their journey will include marquee clashes with reigning champions Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen, managed by former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso. As one of the top-seeded teams in the new 36-club league phase, Liverpool will also contend with challengers like RB Leipzig, PSV Eindhoven, Bologna, Girona, and Lille, all of whom will be eager to claim a top-eight spot to ensure progression to the knockout stages.
Liverpool’s recent form against Italian clubs has been encouraging. They have won four of their last five away matches in Italy in European competitions, showcasing their strength on the road. However, the memories of being knocked out by Atalanta in the Europa League quarterfinals last season still linger, showing that they are vulnerable on their travels. Heading into this Champions League clash, Liverpool’s confidence has been somewhat shaken by a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League over the weekend. Callum Hudson-Odoi’s stunning goal punished Liverpool’s wastefulness in attack, bringing an end to the Reds' run of three consecutive league victories without conceding a goal.
AC Milan, meanwhile, have had a rocky start to the Serie A season under new manager Paulo Fonseca. The Rossoneri collected just two points from their opening three matches, prompting early murmurs of dissatisfaction among fans. However, their fortunes took a turn over the weekend with a commanding 4-0 win against Venezia, which brought a much-needed boost ahead of their Champions League opener. Milan’s attacking unit clicked into gear in spectacular fashion, with goals from Theo Hernandez, Youssouf Fofana, Christian Pulisic, and Rafael Leao. This emphatic performance has raised hopes that Fonseca’s squad is beginning to find its rhythm after the international break, just in time for their European campaign.
Fonseca is treading in the footsteps of José Mourinho as only the second Portuguese manager to take charge of an Italian side in the Champions League. Mourinho famously led Inter Milan to the title in 2010, and while Fonseca faces a tall order to replicate that success, he will be aiming to establish Milan as genuine contenders in the competition. Their group stage is set to be challenging, with fixtures against Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, and Girona still to come. Milan will also face Club Brugge, Dinamo Zagreb, Slovan Bratislava, and Red Star Belgrade in what promises to be a tough set of matches. However, the focus for Milan and their supporters this week will be on avenging recent disappointments at the hands of Liverpool. While Milan managed to erase the painful memory of their 2005 Champions League final loss to Liverpool by winning the 2007 final, their more recent encounter, a 2-1 defeat at San Siro during the 2021–22 group stage, still stings.
That match saw Divock Origi, a cult hero at Liverpool who is now struggling to make an impact at Milan, score one of the goals that led to the Rossoneri’s downfall. However, Milan will hope their new signings, including Pulisic and Loftus-Cheek, can make the difference this time around. Rafael Leao, who looked sharp in their weekend thrashing of Venezia, will be another key figure in their attack. Milan fans will be eager to see how their side fares in their first major European test of the season, especially given the high stakes.
Liverpool, for their part, will be without Harvey Elliott, who is sidelined with a foot injury. However, the inclusion of new signing Federico Chiesa is a welcome boost. Slot has been cautious with Chiesa’s return to full fitness, but the Italian winger is expected to be part of the squad, though he may not start the game. Liverpool’s attack has looked somewhat blunt in recent matches, and neither Darwin Nunez nor Cody Gakpo impressed when they came off the bench against Nottingham Forest. With a tough fixture schedule ahead, Slot will likely rotate his squad to keep key players fresh, especially in the attack.
Defensively, Liverpool are expected to stick with a familiar back four, with Alisson in goal, Alexander-Arnold and Robertson as fullbacks, and Van Dijk and Konate forming the central defensive partnership. In midfield, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch could start as the deeper-lying players, providing a platform for Liverpool’s creative talents further up the pitch. Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Gakpo will likely feature in the attacking midfield roles, with Nunez leading the line up front.
On the Milan side, Paulo Fonseca will have to navigate a few injury concerns. Key players such as Alessandro Florenzi, Marco Sportiello, and Ismael Bennacer are all set to miss out due to injury. German defender Malick Thiaw is also doubtful with an ankle issue, and while Davide Calabria is expected to return to the lineup after missing the weekend match, Milan’s defense could still be vulnerable. Fonseca will likely stick with the core of the team that thrashed Venezia, with Maignan in goal, Theo Hernandez, Tomori, and Pavlovic in defense, and a midfield trio of Loftus-Cheek, Reijnders, and Fofana. The attacking trio of Pulisic, Leao, and Tammy Abraham will be tasked with breaking down Liverpool’s defense.
Both sides come into this match with question marks over their form, but Milan’s convincing win over the weekend has given them a timely boost. They are unbeaten in their last four Champions League matches against English opposition and have never lost to a Premier League team at home in the competition, which will give them added confidence. However, Liverpool’s strong track record in European competitions, coupled with their ability to win in Italy, suggests they should not be written off despite their recent dip in form.
This matchup is likely to be a tightly contested affair. Milan’s resurgence under Fonseca, combined with Liverpool’s inconsistency in front of goal, points to a draw as the most probable outcome. Both teams have the quality to score, but given Liverpool’s recent struggles to convert chances and Milan’s defensive vulnerabilities, a 1-1 scoreline seems a fair prediction.
Predicted lineups
- AC Milan:Maignan; Emerson, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Reijnders, Fofana, Loftus-Cheek; Pulisic, Abraham, Leao.
- Liverpool:Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Nunez.
Ultimately, this encounter between two European heavyweights promises to be a fascinating tactical battle, with both sides eager to lay down a marker in their opening Champions League match of the season.
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