Official: AC Milan vs. Liverpool starting XIs – three changes from Venezia

AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca has named the starting line-up that will take to the field against Liverpool in tonight’s Champions League opener.

The injury problems for Milan were known coming into the game with Malick Thiaw out due to a sprained ankle, Ismael Bennacer out following surgery on a torn calf, Alessandro Florenzi absent with a knee issue and Marco Sportiello sidelined with a hand problem.

Mike Maignan has kept his place in goal but there are two changes to the defence from the Venezia game, with Davide Calabria and Fikayo Tomori coming back in alongside Strahinja Pavlovic and Theo Hernandez.

The midfield three will again be Youssouf Fofana, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tijjani Reijnders, but what remains to be seen is who players further forward out of the latter two, with the Dutchman expected to at present.

The wingers were always almost certain to be Christian Pulisic on the right and Rafael Leao on the left. Alvaro Morata will lead the line after fully recovering from injury with Abraham dropping to the bench.

Official Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson, Tomori, Pavlovic, Theo Hernandez; Loftus-Cheek, Fofana; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Morata.

Bench: Nava, Torriani, Okafor, Zeroli, Chukwueze, Emerson Royal, Bartesaghi, Terracciano, Gabbia, Musah, Abraham.

Official Liverpool XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, MacAllister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Diogo Jota.

Bench: Jaros, Kelleher, Gomez, Endo, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Chiesa, Jones, Robertsonn, Quansah, Morton, Bradley.