Liverpool face AC Milan in their Champions League opener, looking to bounce back from a shocking 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest over the weekend.
The Reds had started the season impressively under new manager Arne Slot, but Forest’s surprise win at Anfield brought them back down to earth.
Meanwhile, Milan kickstarted their season with a resounding 4-0 win over Venezia, easing pressure on manager Paulo Fonseca.
The Italian giants will now look to carry that momentum into European competition.
This will be the fifth European meeting between Liverpool and Milan, with two of those encounters famously coming in the Champions League finals.
Liverpool won the epic 2005 final on penalties, while Milan exacted revenge in 2007 with a 2-1 victory. The Reds have also won all three of their matches at the San Siro, including a 2-1 win over Milan in the 2021 group stage.
As Liverpool seek to put their Nottingham Forest defeat behind them, and Milan aim for consistency, this clash promises to deliver another thrilling chapter in the storied history of these two European giants.
Mohamed Salah is the key man for Liverpool, having started the Premier League season in blistering form. His 41 Champions League goals for the Reds is the highest tally for any player at an English club, and he’ll be looking to add to that tally in Milan.
Liverpool will be without Harvey Elliott, who remains sidelined with injury, but the rest of the squad, including Federico Chiesa, is available.
For Milan, injuries remain a concern, with Ismaël Bennacer, Alessandro Florenzi, and Marco Sportiello all long-term absentees. Malick Thiaw will also miss out due to an ankle injury.
Milan have struggled defensively, conceding high-value chances to opponents.
Liverpool will look to capitalize on this weakness, especially with Mohamed Salah’s impressive European record. Can the Reds get back on track in the Champions League?
