A mouth-watering encounter between familiar foes Milan and Liverpool is the peak of the newly formatted Champions League matchday one. Tuesday’s showdown at San Siro is the first between the two sides since the 2021/22 group stages, with the home team looking to enact revenge on their old European rivals.
As the League Phase gets underway, Europe’s attention turns to Lombardy, where Milan hope to reaffirm their continental credentials after nearly two decades of disappointments. Not since 2007 and their iconic 2-1 triumph in Athens against none other than Liverpool have the Italians tasted European success.
Since Carlo Ancelotti’s star-studded squad claimed vengeance for an unforgettable defeat in the Istanbul final back in 2005, things have gone downhill for Milan. Though the Rossoneri reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2022/23, it was merely a consolation for their long-term struggles on the continental stage.
Unlike their opposition, Liverpool covered themselves in Champions League glory as early as 2018/19 under Jurgen Klopp. However, the famous German manager is now part of Anfield’s history. It’s up to his successor, Arne Slot, to pick up where his trophy-laden predecessor left off and enter the club’s folklore.
After winning his first three Premier League games in charge without conceding, Slot slumped to a dismal 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest at the weekend. That wasn’t an ideal warm-up for Liverpool’s first outing in the Champions League following a season-long hiatus from Europe’s most prestigious club competition.
Match Preview
Milan
As aforementioned, since lifting their seventh Champions League crown in 2007, the 19-time Serie A champions have become a marginal figure in European football. To put their struggles into context, Milan have picked up just three wins in their 21 continental clashes against English clubs since the Athens showpiece (D6, L12).
That run includes a pair of losses to Liverpool in the 2021/22 Champions League final. On top of that, Milan have notoriously stuttered at home, winning less than half of their last 18 European outings at San Siro (W7, D3, L8), testifying to the club’s epic fall from grace. New manager Paulo Fonseca hopes to re-establish the Rossoneri among Europe’s elite.
However, his start to life in Lombardy has been a disaster. The Portuguese coach found solace in a 4-0 thumping of Serie A newcomers Venezia at the weekend. But that victory only served to end his three-game winless league start (D2, L1). Perhaps he’ll find more luck in Europe.
Liverpool
Liverpool spent last season in the Europa League. Despite being named the hot favorites to lift the crown, they slipped to a 3-1 quarter-final loss to eventual winners Atalanta. After a 3-0 defeat on Merseyside, the Reds triumphed 1-0 in Bergamo to extend their prolific run in away matches against Italian clubs.
Indeed, they’ve won four of their last five competitive visits to Italy (L1), which bodes well for their effort to post another Champions League victory against Milan. Liverpool got the better of the Rossoneri in their 2021/22 meeting at San Siro, with goals from Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi inspiring them to a 2-1 win.
That victory wasn’t random. The Reds have emerged victorious from eight of their last ten Champions League away fixtures (L2), with seven seeing both teams on the scoresheet. As such, connoisseurs of action-packed football have every reason to look forward to this blockbuster clash.
Team News
Milan will commence their Champions League journey without Ismael Bennacer, Malick Thiaw, Marco Sportiello, and Alessandro Florenzi. Davide Calabria and Alvaro Morata are not 100% fit yet, but they’ll likely be on the bench tomorrow night.
As for Liverpool, Harvey Elliott is not in contention for the squad due to a foot fracture. Marquee summer arrival Federico Chiesa could be in line for his Reds debut despite missing out on their Premier League game against Forest. The Italian winger lacks match fitness but could start on the bench.
Milan vs Liverpool Potential Line-ups
Milan (4-2-3-1): Mike Maignan; Emerson Royal, Matteo Gabbia, Strahinja Pavlovic, Theo Hernandez; Tijjani Reijnders, Youssouf Fofana; Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao; Tammy Abraham.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch; Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo; Darwin Nunez.
Milan vs Liverpool Prediction
Now’s the time for Fonseca’s Milan to show what they’re made of. The Rossoneri must build momentum with a heavily anticipated Derby della Madonnina waiting in the wings. What better way than to take points against Liverpool?
But we wouldn’t get ahead of ourselves. A draw emerges as the likeliest outcome in this clash of titans.
Prediction: Draw
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