AC Milan will hope to kickstart their 2024/25 Champions League with a positive result against Liverpool. The two sides enter this fixture in contrasting scenarios, and with home advantage, the Rossoneri will be hoping the San Siro crowd can make a difference.
Tonight sees the Champions League start once again, and the headline fixture on Tuesday takes place at San Siro. It is a game that Milan come into as underdogs, but there have been suggestions that the new format of the competition could create some shocks.
With there now being eight opening games instead of six, there is an argument that the pressure is lessened in the headline fixtures – like this one – because of the added chances to get points, and less importance on home and away legs of group games.
Gazzetta dello Sport’s deputy editor, Paolo Avanti, spoke to Milan News about Liverpool’s chances in Tuesday night’s clash and questioned if the new format could be beneficial for the Rossoneri.
Liverpool’s big change from last season is on the bench…
“Arne Slot has all the credentials to be considered a great coach. Of course, the defeat against Nottingham Forest leaves some shadows, but we can also file it away as a classic incident. The differences we saw compared to Jurgen Klopp were only character-related, it is still difficult to understand Slot’s trademark football. Because after the first few outings my impressions and others are that the style of play of this Liverpool team seems like Klopp’s, made of great pressing and speed.”
On paper, the Reds are favourites…
“Considering that Serie A is a step below the Premier League, when there are these challenges you always think of a massacre. In reality, and recent history proves it, the Italians know how to harness their opponents’ play. Milan eliminated Tottenham from the Champions League a couple of years ago, last year 0-0 with Newcastle in the opener with a result that was close for the Rossoneri.
“We tend to start off by wrapping our heads around it. Now, it is true that Milan have some problems and that Liverpool are a great team. Surely, had it not been for the 4-0 win at Venezia and the Reds’ defeat to Nottingham Forest we would have a different perception, of a hopeless game for Milan.
“I think the new Champions League formula may suit the Diavolo, in the sense that if they manage to hold on in the first half, Liverpool may well be content with a draw.”
You were talking about players not being at the top, that’s the weakness to exploit…
“Against Nottingham Forest I saw a team that struggled to make themselves dangerous. Let’s say that the national players are still not at the top, especially those who went all the way in the European Championship. Otherwise, this is not a team that has any real weaknesses.”
In midfield, there is perhaps a Fabinho missing…
“Szoboszlai is a great player, gifted with vision, interdiction and construction. Gravenberch, who I did not like at the beginning, is improving a lot. Of course, the midfield of the European champion Liverpool was something else.”
And is this Liverpool as a whole so far removed from the European champion?
“I would say it’s a notch below, in my opinion it’s not even Premier League title contenders. Certain players are getting old: Salah remains an extraordinary phenomenon but he is no longer the one of a few years ago. Van Dijk is the same, since his injury two years ago he is not what he used to be but he is still a great player.”
The goals so far conceded by Milan all come on his right flank. And on the opposite flank, the Rossoneri will find Luis Diaz…
“He is undoubtedly the number one danger. He is in great form, his insertions create havoc. I invite you to look at the goal scored against Brentford, a counter-attack on the development of the opponents’ corner that led to the goal in 11 seconds. Milan must be very careful.”
Would you see anyone from Milan in this Liverpool side?
“Although Alisson is still stronger, Maignan can fit in. I would also say Theo Hernandez, despite the competition from Robertson. And I would add Fofana. Morata could fit a few years ago. Leao on the other hand doesn’t.”
The last Milan-Liverpool match was decided by Origi, then by the Reds. The following year at AC Milan, he was one of the biggest market flops…
“He was lucky enough to play for a Liverpool side that was a perfect machine, scoring in the Champions League final. And this weighed on the perception of the player, but I must say that when he went to Milan I was already perplexed.
“He was a zero-parameter and maybe as a gamble he could have fit in, he certainly went worse than expected. The character may also have weighed, certainly when he tried to relaunch himself in Nottingham it was a disaster.”