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AC Milan and Liverpool, two former Champions League titans, square off under the iconic lights of the San Siro this Tuesday, marking the start of their latest European journeys. This eagerly anticipated Champions League clash pits two clubs with rich European histories against each other, both looking to reclaim their former glory on the continent. It’s a first for AC Milan under new head coach Paulo Fonseca, as well as for Liverpool under Arne Slot, the Dutchman who took over from Jurgen Klopp. Both coaches will be eager to make amends for past shortcomings as they seek to guide their respective clubs deep into the competition.
Liverpool, six-time European champions, return to the Champions League after Slot successfully secured a top-four finish in the Premier League last season. While Klopp couldn't deliver the Europa League trophy that many had hoped for at the start of the campaign, Slot has been handed the reins of a team still brimming with ambition. The Reds are set for a challenging group stage, with mouthwatering clashes against Real Madrid, the reigning European champions, and Bayer Leverkusen, managed by their former midfielder Xabi Alonso. As one of the top eight clubs in the revamped 36-team group stage, Liverpool will also face stiff competition from the likes of Bologna, RB Leipzig, Girona, Lille, and PSV Eindhoven, all of whom will be vying to secure a top-eight finish and automatic qualification to the knockout stage.
Liverpool travel to San Siro with a strong recent record in Italy, having won four of their last five away fixtures against Serie A opposition in European competition. However, they are not invulnerable, as evidenced by their elimination at the hands of Atalanta in the Europa League quarterfinals last season. Liverpool’s form going into the match is also cause for concern, having suffered a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest over the weekend in the Premier League. Callum Hudson-Odoi’s brilliant strike punished Liverpool for their profligacy in front of goal, ending a run of three consecutive wins without conceding. The loss has left Liverpool looking somewhat vulnerable ahead of their trip to Milan.
Meanwhile, AC Milan’s domestic form under Paulo Fonseca has been far from convincing. The Rossoneri had picked up just two points from their first three Serie A matches, sparking early speculation about Fonseca’s future. However, their fortunes took a significant turn over the weekend as they secured their first league win of the season, demolishing Venezia 4-0. Milan was rampant in the first half, scoring four goals in the opening 29 minutes, with Theo Hernandez, Youssouf Fofana, Christian Pulisic, and Rafael Leao all finding the back of the net. It was a much-needed boost for Fonseca and his team, and Milan’s fans will be hoping that their side can carry that momentum into Tuesday’s Champions League opener.
Fonseca, only the second Portuguese manager to lead an Italian club in the Champions League after José Mourinho, faces the daunting task of emulating Mourinho’s historic 2009–10 triumph with Inter Milan. The Rossoneri have a challenging group stage ahead, with matches against Real Madrid, Leverkusen, and Girona to come, as well as fixtures against Club Brugge, Dinamo Zagreb, Slovan Bratislava, and Red Star Belgrade. However, for Milan’s supporters, the prospect of exacting revenge against Liverpool will be at the forefront of their minds. The Reds famously defeated Milan in the 2005 Champions League final, and while Milan avenged that loss by beating Liverpool in the 2007 final, their more recent encounter, a 2-1 defeat at San Siro in the 2021–22 group stage, remains fresh in the memory.
Divock Origi, now at Milan but struggling to make an impact, scored in that 2021 victory for Liverpool. However, Milan will be hoping that their new signings can make a difference this time around. Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Fikayo Tomori all have experience playing in the Premier League and could be key players in this encounter. Rafael Leao, Milan’s dynamic forward, will also be looking to make his mark after an impressive performance at the weekend.
For Liverpool, the absence of Harvey Elliott due to a foot injury is a significant blow, but they will be boosted by the potential involvement of Federico Chiesa. The Italian winger joined the Reds over the summer, but Slot has been cautious with his fitness, and while Chiesa is expected to be in the squad, he is unlikely to start. Liverpool’s attacking options, including Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, will need to step up after failing to make an impact off the bench against Nottingham Forest.
Defensively, Liverpool will likely stick with their established backline, with Alisson in goal and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Andrew Robertson forming the defense. Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch could anchor the midfield, while Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Gakpo will provide the attacking impetus behind Nunez.
For Milan, injuries to key players could complicate Fonseca’s plans. Alessandro Florenzi, Marco Sportiello, and Ismael Bennacer are all sidelined, while German defender Malick Thiaw is a doubt due to an ankle injury. Davide Calabria, however, is expected to return after missing the Venezia match with a leg injury. Fonseca will likely stick with the core of the team that performed so well over the weekend, with Maignan in goal, a defense led by Theo Hernandez and Tomori, and a midfield trio of Loftus-Cheek, Fofana, and Tijjani Reijnders. Up front, Pulisic, Leao, and Tammy Abraham should start.
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.
In what promises to be a closely contested encounter, Milan will be looking to continue their resurgence under Fonseca, while Liverpool will aim to bounce back from their weekend setback. Milan’s recent form suggests they are in a better position than Liverpool heading into the match, and their strong record against English teams in the Champions League will give them confidence. The Rossoneri are unbeaten in their last four Champions League matches against Premier League opposition, and they have never lost to a Premier League team at home in the competition.
However, Liverpool’s pedigree in Europe, coupled with their impressive recent record in Italy, means they cannot be underestimated. Slot will be hoping that his side can rediscover their clinical edge in front of goal, but Milan’s defensive solidity and newfound attacking rhythm could frustrate the Reds. A draw seems like the most likely outcome, with both teams possessing the quality to find the back of the net, but perhaps lacking the cutting edge to secure all three points.
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