Liverpool travel to Italy for their UEFA Champions League opener against AC Milan on Tuesday.
Liverpool are reeling from a surprising 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest and will be eager to bounce back. The loss has left fans disappointed, and there will be high expectations for a strong response from the team.
AC Milan, having recently secured their first league win of the season against Venezia, will be looking to build on that momentum. A victory over Liverpool would provide a significant boost to their confidence. The Rossoneri will be aware of Liverpool’s struggles against Nottingham Forest and will aim to capitalize on this opportunity at home.
Liverpool and AC Milan are two of the most iconic clubs in UEFA Champions League history, having been involved in some of the competition’s most memorable matches. **The Hard Tackle** delves into the details and previews this eagerly anticipated encounter between two storied rivals.
AC Milan vs Liverpool Team News and Tactics
AC Milan
They are facing several injury concerns ahead of their clash with Liverpool. Ismael Bennacer, Malick Thiaw, Alessandro Florenzi, and Marco Sportiello are all sidelined with injuries.
They are likely to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Mike Maignan starting in goal.
Emerson Royal and Theo Hernandez will feature as the full-backs, contributing both defensively and in attack. In central defense, Fikayo Tomori will partner with Strahinja Pavlovic.
In midfield, Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders will join Ruben Loftus-Cheek. This trio will provide defensive stability and physicality. Up front, Tammy Abraham will lead the attack, supported by Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao on the wings.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Maignan; Royal, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Reijnders, Fofana, Loftus-Cheek; Pulisic, Abraham, Leao
Liverpool
Harvey Elliott is Liverpool’s only absentee for this match. The Reds are expected to set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Alisson Becker starting in goal.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson will feature as full-backs, contributing both defensively and in creating opportunities for the attackers. Ibrahima Konate will partner Virgil van Dijk in central defense.
In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister will provide creativity and control, while Ryan Gravenberch will focus on defensive support and managing the game’s tempo. Dominik Szoboszlai will operate as the attacking midfielder, aiming to generate goalscoring chances with his vision and passing.
On the wings, Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz will offer pace and flair, with Darwin Nunez spearheading the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez
Key Stats:
- Liverpool’s Record: Liverpool have won their last five encounters with AC Milan across all competitions.
- Scoring Trends: Liverpool have scored at least two goals in each of their last five matches against AC Milan.
- High-Scoring Games: Each of the last three matches between AC Milan and Liverpool has seen over 2.5 goals.
- Goals Overview: A total of 20 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between the two sides.
- Recent Form: AC Milan have managed just one win from their last four matches in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian international has had a strong start to the season, but he will be keen to make amends after Liverpool’s performance against Nottingham Forest. Mohamed Salah will be looking to bounce back with a commanding display.
Liverpool will rely on him to both create scoring chances for his teammates and find the net himself. Salah is the key player to watch in this fixture and could be the decisive factor in the match.
AC Milan vs Liverpool Prediction
AC Milan 1-1 Liverpool
Although AC Milan have had a mixed start to the season, their recent victory over Venezia will have provided a significant confidence boost. In contrast, Liverpool are coming into this match following a defeat.
This game is expected to be tightly contested, with both sides being closely matched on paper. As such, it could be a thrilling encounter with neither team able to gain a decisive edge. A draw seems a likely outcome as the two sides may end up cancelling each other out.
How to Watch
Watch online via NaijaSport247 TV.
