AC Milan and Liverpool lock horns in one of the most anticipated games of the first matchweek of this season's revamped UEFA Champions League.
The Rossoneri faced the Reds in two finals between 2005 and 2007, the first ending in a penalty-shootout triumph for the Premier League club after a remarkable comeback from 3-0 down in Istanbul. In the second, Milan got revenge, winning 2-1 in Athens.
For this meeting in the new-look UCL league phase, Liverpool head to San Siro on the back of a dispiriting 1-0 home Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest last weekend — a result that ended Arne Slot's 100 percent record since taking over from Jurgen Klopp. The Dutch coach was disappointed with his team's performance and could be tempted to make some changes for this game.
Milan thrashed Venezia 4-0 to ease some pressure on head coach Paolo Fonseca, who had come under scrutiny following a winless run prior to the international break. Another defeat here would see the former Roma boss facing further questions over his suitability for the job.
The Sporting News looks at the confirmed lineups and team news for this fixture.
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AC Milan vs. Liverpool lineups, confirmed starting 11, team news
Fonseca sticks with the majority of the team that put four past Venezia last weekend. That mean USMNT star Christian Pulisic starts in attack alongside Rafael Leao. Alvaro Morata is still working his way back to full fitness from a muscle problem but is selected ahead of Tammy Abraham.
Fikayo Tomori comes in for Matteo Gabbia at centre-back, while Davide Calabria is back to fitness and gets the nod over Emerson Royal at right-back.
Ismael Bennacer is facing several weeks out with a calf problem sustained in the international break, but Tijjani Reijnders has found form in midfield of late and will hope to continue that this week.
AC Milan (4-3-3, right to left): Maignan (GK) — Calabria, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez — Reijnders, Fofana, Loftus-Cheek — Pulisic, Morata, Leao
Injured: Ismael Bennacer, Alessandro Florenzi, Marco Sportiello, Malick Thiaw
Suspended: None
Ineligible: Luka Jovic
Slot made two changes after the shock defeat to Forest. Cody Gakpo starts on the left wing in place of Luis Diaz, although Darwin Nunez and new signing Federico Chiesa have to be content with spots on the bench.
Kostas Tsimikas replaces Andy Robertson at left-back but the midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister or Dominik Szoboszlai remains unchanged
Liverpool predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Alisson (GK) — Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson — Gravenberch, Mac Allister — Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo — Nunez
Injured: Harvey Elliott
Suspended: None
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AC Milan vs. Liverpool live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch this Champions League match across selected areas of the world's major regions:
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| USA | — | Paramount+, ViX |
| Canada | — | DAZN |
| UK | — | Amazon Prime Video |
| Australia | — | Stan Sport |
| India | — | JioTV, Sony LIV |
