AC Milan

Photo by Andrea Bruno Diodato/DeFodi Images via Getty Images It’s been a while, hopefully we get it right! AC Milan face Liverpool FC in the long awaited return to the UEFA Champions League at Anfield later tonight. Milan will miss out on veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic but have Olivier Giroud back. Here are some key battles to watch out for in the game: Key Battles Right winger vs Left back Mohammed Salah vs Theo Hernandez This is the scariest pair up for the game. Their best player against our weakest defensive link in the line up. Hernandez will need to be aware of the gaps he leaves behind if he sprints forward and will just generally have to put on a defensive hat for the game. Keeping Salah as far away from goal as possible needs to be priority no. 1. Central midfielder vs Central defensive midfielder Fabinho vs Franck Kessie As with the last game, the midfield battle will be key in this one but will largely be Kessie’s job to keep Fabinhgo occupied and disoriented while Tonali/Bennacer have the chance to push our play forward. This battle will be key as the middle of the pitch is Liverpool’s vulnerability so enough pressure here could expose some cracks. Striker vs Centre back Olivier Giroud vs Virgil van Dijk With Ibrahimovic ruled out, Giroud will bear the cross to get us a goal in this game whether he starts or comes off the bench. He is familiar with Liverpool and has played against this defence thus has some reference on what he needs to do. Beating Van Dijk will be quite difficult and the late runs of Rebic and Leao will be crucial to overwhelm the defence. Predictions Salah Winner Kessie Winner Van Dijk Winner

Photo by Sportinfoto/DeFodi Images via Getty Images Milan are back in the UCL! #BackHome AC Milan will face Liverpool FC in the UEFA Champions League this evening for the first time in eight years. Milan are missing a key figure in Zlatan Ibrahimovic but will need to rely on the younger players to step up and show their hunger in the long awaited return. H2H Milan 3 - 3 Liverpool (2005) Milan 2 - 1 Liverpool (2007) Form Guide (all competitions) Liverpool: W, W, W, D, W Milan: D, W, W, W, W Players to Watch Mike Maignan Our last line of defence will surely be at the forefront of the fight in this game. He will be facing an onslaught from Salah and Mane down both wings as Firmino/Jota attack the scraps in the box. The keeper will need to stand his ground and bail out the team in a game where this will be absolutely necessary. Mohammed Salah None other than Salah will be the main threat for Liverpool as evidenced by their opening games in the Premier League thus far. The winger will be dangerous going up against Theo Hernandez but also cutting back and running at the centre backs. He will need to be hounded by our midfielders to keep him away from our goal. Brahim Diaz Given the lack of a striker and the presence of solid wingbacks on Liverpool, Diaz will be the one tasked to create opportunities and play between the lines. The midfielder will need to show his brilliance and perhaps score a curler but this will be a major challenge for the young no. 10. Prediction: Liverpool 1 - 1 Milan

Photo by Sportinfoto/DeFodi Images via Getty Images The striker came back with a bang against Lazio but will be missed in the mid week. AC Milan face Liverpool FC in the UEFA Champions League tonight at Anfield and the side have been dealt a blow as veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been ruled out of the game with an injury. Stefano Pioli in his press conference yesterday said via Milan’s website: “Zlatan has had an inflammation; he gave it a go this morning but it’s useless to take risks at this point of the season. I see AC Milan with Zlatan and I absolutely think we’ll have him back soon. Absences are a part of football; I’ll need to choose between Ante and Olivier but we have the cover.” On Olivier Giroud he said: “He won’t be able to complete a full 90 - being out for two weeks is tough - but he’s doing well and is available. Ante, meanwhile, is going into this one following a brilliant performance; I’m sure that they will be ready and that both of them have characteristics that fit well with the rest of the team.”

Photo by Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images Milan are back, can you hear ‘Theee Champpiiiiooooonnnnsss!’ AC Milan return to the Champions League tonight after eight long years since the side last featured in the elite competition. Milan are returning under Stefano Pioli who helped the side finish 2nd in the league last season. A familiar foe is awaiting us to welcome us back to the tournament in Liverpool FC who we have faced in finals of the competition twice before. Milan travel to the UK for the first game playing at Anfield as the Rossoneri look to begin their campaign to make it out of the Group of Death, Group B. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been ruled out of the game, Sandro Tonali did not train yesterday but is expected to play and Olivier Giroud returns following the coronavirus side-lined him. Milan will line up in their usual 4-2-3-1 while Liverpool will play their 4-3-3 with much of the same squad that won the UCL title in 2020 under Jurgen Klopp. Expected Line Up (4-2-3-1): Maignan, Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Hernandez, Tonali (Bennacer), Kessie, Saelemaekers, Diaz, Leao, Giroud (Rebic).

Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/LiveMedia/NurPhoto via Getty Images Milan showing that they will not stand idly by when their players are attacked. AC Milan took on Lazio at the San Siro on Sunday evening and came away with a 2-0 victory with a number of new signings making their debuts. Tiemoue Bakayoko came on at the 61st minute to make his second debut for Milan but had to face an unfortunate incident when Lazio fans in the away stand directed racist chants at the Frenchman. As we reported here, Bakayoko was insulted in the chorus of a chant where the fans sang, “This banana is for Bakayoko.” Milan are now choosing to take action as racism will not be tolerated against any Rossoneri player or anyone else in the league in Italy or abroad. The club has taken a stand and the fans need to stand by to show their support for Bakayoko. AC Milan on Twitter have announced that they have decided to submit a complaint to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, in order to clarify the choirs from the host supporters sector during Milan-Lazio. #WeRespAct #WeTheFamily