AC Milan vs Liverpool – UEFA Champions League – Preview, Team News and Updates

After a three-month hiatus, the UEFA Champions League is finally back. And oh boy, have we missed it. With a completely revamped format, the 2024/25 Champions League promises to be a cracker.

To kick off Matchday 1, the football gods have delivered an absolute blockbuster: AC Milan vs. Liverpool. These two European giants go head-to-head under the bright lights of San Siro on Matchday 1. Both Liverpool and AC Milan underwent a sizable rebuild this summer, as longtime head coaches Jurgen Klopp and Stefano Pioli departed their respective clubs after enjoying super successful stints.  

Now, Arne Slot is handed the duty to replace Liverpool cult hero, Jurgen Klopp. Meanwhile, AC Milan have turned to former AS Roma manager Paulo Fonseca to lead their charge. Both managers are hungry for a win as they begin their Champions League journeys. The only question that remains: who will come out on top in this epic showdown tonight? Buckle up—this one is going to be a classic! 

AC Milan vs Liverpool – Match Preview 

Before deciding to vacate his Liverpool hotseat, Jurgen Klopp managed to get the Reds back into the Champions League, courtesy of a third-placed finish last season. But despite winning the Carabao Cup, Klopp’s last season as Liverpool’s boss could be classified as underwhelming. Hopes of a Europa League triumph were crushed in the quarterfinals by eventual champions Atalanta, while a bitter FA Cup semifinal loss to archrivals Manchester United added insult to injury. What once promised to be a historic campaign fizzled out by the end, leaving Liverpool with just one piece of silverware in a season that had promised so much more. 

However, that’s in the past. Now, Arne Slot, and he’s quickly making his mark. The Reds have started the 2024/25 Premier League season on fire, winning three of their first four matches, including a commanding 3-0 demolition of Manchester United at Old Trafford. However, their perfect run hit a bump with a surprise loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Despite the stumble, the early signs under Slot are promising, and a win against AC Milan in their Champions League opener could supercharge the growing optimism at Anfield. 

But winning at the iconic San Siro is no easy feat. Regarded as one of the most imposing arenas in European football, San Siro has played host to some thrilling European nights. While a roaring San Siro will play a huge role in tonight’s match, AC Milan also possesses some world class players like Rafa Leao, Theo Hernandez, Tijjani Reijnders, Christian Pulisic and Mike Maignan. Therefore, only a fool would underestimate the Rossoneri. 

But despite possessing a supremely talented squad, Paulo Fonseca has endured a tricky start to life as AC Milan’s head coach. The Rossoneri have only managed to accrue 5 points from four games in the Serie A. However, they recently thrashed Venezia 4-0, with Hernandez, Pulisic and Tammy Abraham registering their names on the scoresheet. If this is an omen for things to come, then tonight’s match between Milan and Liverpool will be a thriller. 

AC Milan vs Liverpool – Team News and Updates 

AC Milan will be without key players for their Champions League opener, including Ismael Bennacer (ankle), Alessandro Florenzi (ACL), and Marco Sportiello (ligament), though Sportiello was unlikely to displace Mike Maignan in goal anyway. German defender Malick Thiaw is also nursing a troublesome ankle sprain and is a major doubt for the midweek clash. On the bright side, Davide Calabria, who missed the weekend’s thrashing of Venezia with a leg injury, is fit to play. 

Barring any last-minute injuries, Paulo Fonseca is expected to stick with the winning lineup from the weekend. Tammy Abraham should retain his spot up front, keeping new signing Alvaro Morata on the bench, as he lines up alongside former Chelsea teammates Christian Pulisic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. 

As for Liverpool, new signing Federico Chiesa didn’t feature in the squad against Nottingham Forest, despite getting a few training sessions before the game. Slot is being cautious with the Italian’s fitness. But he hasn’t ruled out giving Chiesa his debut in his homeland, though it won’t be from the start. Meanwhile, Harvey Elliott is sidelined with a foot fracture. Cody Gakpo and Darwin Núñez didn’t have the impact Slot hoped for off the bench on Saturday, but with just over 72 hours between games, he’s likely to rotate his starting lineup, giving both attackers a chance to shine in this high-stakes clash. 

AC Milan vs Liverpool – Kick-Off Time and Date 

The game is scheduled to take place on 18th September 2024 (Wednesday) at San Siro in Milan. The match will kick off at 12:30 AM (Indian Standard Time). 

Also Read: Barcelona Reveal the Extent of Dani Olmo’s Injury, Expected to Be Sidelined for 4 to 5 Weeks