Liverpool, fortunately, shouldn’t have lengthy to dwell on their weekend to neglect as their Champions League marketing campaign will get underway in Milan on Tuesday night.
AC Milan vs. Liverpool
Champions League (1) | San Siro
September 17, 2024 | 8pm (BST)
After counting down the times for Liverpool to return from the worldwide break, we didn’t get the efficiency or end result we had hoped for in opposition to Nottingham Forest.
A response, the primary below Arne Slot, is required because the Reds return to Champions League motion. Right here is every thing it’s worthwhile to know.
1. No new harm issues
Slot’s squad educated as regular on the AXA on Monday afternoon and, fortunately, there have been no new harm issues to go away him with loads of selections.
Harvey Elliott was the one absentee with a fractured foot as 24 of his teammates obtained their preparations underway for the journey to Italy.
That coaching workforce dwindled by one as 23 gamers had been named within the travelling squad.
Federico Chiesa can be on the bench, and Slot hinted his first minutes for the membership are on the playing cards.
2. Time for rotation
Certainly Slot makes modifications for this one, proper? He wasted the chance to do in opposition to Forest and with solely 72 hours between video games, a little bit of rotation must be on the playing cards.
You might make an argument for practically the entire outfield gamers to be shuffled round, however 4 would be the magic quantity on this event.
Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley, Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez would all inject recent legs into the XI and are greater than able to getting the job achieved. Some large image pondering is required from Slot.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Diaz, Nunez
3. Let’s discuss type…
Liverpool began the season strongly with three wins on the spin with out conceding, however they had been introduced again all the way down to earth on Saturday in a 1-0 loss to Forest.
Slot lamented his aspect’s ball possession was “not of the requirements” he’s come to anticipate within the Anfield defeat, that means his aspect are poised for a response.
Milan, in the meantime, obtained their first win of the season on Saturday and wanted solely 29 minutes to wrap it up, scoring 4 targets with out reply. They now have 5 factors after two earlier attracts and a defeat.
Accidents to key gamers have hindered Paulo Fonseca’s aspect and the Reds will hope they will capitalise on Milan’s inconsistent begin.
LFC (final 4): L-W-W-W
Milan: W-D-L-D
4. That is Slot’s third season within the Champions League
Whereas this fixture can be Slot’s European debut as Liverpool head coach, he has twice led a workforce on this competitors – although solely as soon as within the group stage.
In 2020/21, AZ Alkmaar had been crushed within the qualifiers and final season his Feyenoord workforce completed third of their group and dropped into the Europa League play-off spherical.
Solely Gerard Houllier – at Celta Vigo in November 1998 – has misplaced his first European sport answerable for the Reds. Let’s preserve it that method!
5. No Origi reunion
Divock Origi is on Milan’s books however he’ll take no half having been demoted to the reserve workforce, a switch was anticipated this summer season however no transfer eventuated.
The striker signed for the Italian aspect in 2022 however he has by no means settled and must accept being a bystander as his former membership come to city. An actual disgrace!
As for different workforce information for the hosts, they’re with out Ismael Bennacer, Alessandro Florenzi and Marco Sportiello, whereas defenders Malick Thiaw and Davide Calabria are each unsure.
Milan have their derby on the weekend so that might give Fonseca some choice complications.
Attainable Milan XI: Maignan; Emerson, Gabbia, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Reijnders, Fofana, Loftus-Cheek; Pulisic, Abraham, Leao
6. 4,000 Reds on the San Siro
For the primary away sport within the competitors, Liverpool obtained an allocation of 4,395 tickets, which accounts for lower than six % of the stadium’s capability.
The San Siro can home 75,923 spectators, however early indications are that the Reds’ travelling followers will definitely be heard all through the night as Milan are struggling to promote tickets.
Latest type and ridiculous ticket costs – which vary from €349 (£294) to €59 (£49) – are accountable for round 20,000 tickets nonetheless being on sale.
For instance, a ticket within the ‘Secondo Rosso’ part – equal to the Higher Predominant Stand – prices €139 (£117) a bit in opposition to Liverpool, however for his or her subsequent Serie A match it’s €59 (£49).
Ticket costs and methods are spiralling uncontrolled.
7. ‘Rotation to not blame for Forest defeat’
Talking in Milan on the eve of the conflict, Slot spoke on the problem on everybody’s lips. Rotation:
“For me, and everybody can have their very own opinion, it’s too easy to place this loss on rotation as a result of I believe too many gamers didn’t attain their regular stage.
“That’s not solely those that began but additionally those that got here in [off the bench.]
“For me, it had rather a lot to do with the enjoying type of the opponent, who made it actually tough for us. However, ultimately, when you didn’t win, you strive to take a look at as many arguments as you could find.
8. Do you know?
Darwin Nunez has netted 9 instances in his 18 video games in Europe for the membership, and a purpose in opposition to Milan would see him attain 10 European targets within the fifth fewest variety of video games in membership historical past.
Solely Sadio Mane (13), Mo Salah (13), Robbie Fowler (16), and Roger Hunt (18) have reached double figures in fewer than 20 matches.
We’ve not seen a lot of Darwin this season, however it might be preferrred if he publicizes himself right here ought to he be given the possibility.
9. It’s a new ref for the Reds
There isn’t any earlier with the referee for this match as Espen Eskas (Norway) has by no means overseen a sport involving Liverpool or AC Milan.
He refereed video games within the Olympics this summer season, and this can be solely his fifth sport answerable for a Champions League fixture from the group/league stage onward.
10. Comply with the match with TIA!
In case you are within the UK, let’s hope you have got the countless variety of subscriptions as Milan vs. Liverpool can be proven stay on Amazon Prime Video from 6.30pm (BST), with kick off at 8pm.
In case you’re questioning why it isn’t on TNT Sports activities, we defined the brand new TV deal right here.
As at all times, when you desire biased commentary than TIA’s matchday liveblog is the place to be. Henry Jackson can be maintaining you knowledgeable and entertained from 7.15pm.
Into these, Reds!
