Liverpool, fortunately, wouldn’t have lengthy to dwell on their weekend to overlook as their Champions League marketing campaign will get underway in Milan on Tuesday night.
AC Milan vs. Liverpool
Champions League (1) | San SiroSeptember 17, 2024 | 8pm (BST)
After counting down the times for Liverpool to return from the worldwide break, we didn’t get the efficiency or consequence we had hoped for in opposition to Nottingham Forest.
A response, the primary beneath Arne Slot, is required because the Reds return to Champions League motion. Right here is every thing you should know.
1. No new harm considerations
Slot’s squad educated as regular on the AXA on Monday afternoon and, fortunately, there have been no new harm considerations to depart 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 crew dwindled by one as 23 gamers had been named within the travelling squad.
Federico Chiesa will probably be on the bench, and Slot hinted his first minutes for the membership are on the playing cards.
2. Time for rotation
Absolutely Slot makes adjustments 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 needs to be on the playing cards.
You might make an argument for practically the entire outfield gamers to be shuffled round, however 4 will 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 accomplished. Some large image considering is required from Slot.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Diaz, Nunez
3. Let’s discuss kind…
Liverpool began the season strongly with three wins on the spin with out conceding, however they had been introduced again right 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 count on 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 objectives 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’ll capitalise on Milan’s inconsistent begin.
LFC (final 4): L-W-W-WMilan: W-D-L-D
4. That is Slot’s third season within the Champions League
Whereas this fixture will probably be Slot’s European debut as Liverpool head coach, he has twice led a crew 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 crew 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 accountable for the Reds. Let’s maintain it that manner!
5. No Origi reunion
Divock Origi is on Milan’s books however he’ll take no half having been demoted to the reserve crew, a switch was anticipated this summer time however no transfer eventuated.
The striker signed for the Italian aspect in 2022 however he has by no means settled and should accept being a bystander as his former membership come to city. An actual disgrace!
As for different crew information for the hosts, they’re with out Ismael Bennacer, Alessandro Florenzi and Marco Sportiello, whereas defenders Malick Thiaw and Davide Calabria are each doubtful.
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 acquired 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 kind 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 Important Stand – prices €139 (£117) a chunk 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 difficulty 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 feel too many gamers didn’t attain their regular degree.
“That isn’t solely those that began but additionally those that got here in [off the bench.]
“For me, it had loads to do with the enjoying model of the opponent, who made it actually troublesome for us. However, in the long run, in the event you didn’t win, you attempt to take a look at as many arguments as yow will discover.
8. Do you know?
Darwin Nunez has netted 9 occasions in his 18 video games in Europe for the membership, and a objective in opposition to Milan would see him attain 10 European objectives 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 will be ideally suited 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 a 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 time, and this will probably be solely his fifth sport accountable for a Champions League fixture from the group/league stage onward.
10. Observe the match with TIA!
In case you are within the UK, let’s hope you’ve the limitless variety of subscriptions as Milan vs. Liverpool will probably be proven stay on Amazon Prime Video from 6.30pm (BST), with kick off at 8pm.
When you’re questioning why it’s not on TNT Sports activities, we defined the brand new TV deal right here.
As all the time, in the event you want biased commentary than TIA’s matchday liveblog is the place to be. Henry Jackson will probably be protecting you knowledgeable and entertained from 7.15pm.
Into these, Reds!
