UEFA Champions League: AC Milan vs Liverpool live
Preview
The last round of matches in this year’s UEFA Champions League group stages sees Liverpool travel away to Italy to face AC Milan. The match kicks off at 8:00 pm(GMT) with Dutch referee Danny Desmond Makkelie set to officiate. It’s all to play for in this game for Milan, as a win may guarantee them qualification into the next round, provided results elsewhere go in their favor. The San Siro will be host to this crunch fixture.
AC Milan are third in group B with four points after five games. Stefano Pioli’s side have won three of their last five games, losing two to Sassuolo and Fiorentina. In their last game, Milan won 2-0 against Salernitana with goals from Franck Kessie and Alexis Saelemaekers. Milan need to beat Liverpool, and Atletico Madrid will have to avoid defeat against Porto if Stefano Pioli’s side are going to play in the next round of the competition.
Liverpool have a guaranteed top spot in group B of this year’s Champions League. The Reds have won all five group stage games so far, scoring 15 and conceding 5. With five wins in their last five games, the Reds are in hot form coming into this game. However, Jurgen Klopp is expected to field a weaker lineup against Milan since the Reds have qualified for the knockout round of the competition.
Head-to-head
Liverpool have dominated recent encounters against Milan, winning four and losing one of their last five games against the Rossoneri. The most recent meeting between these two sides was on matchday 1 of this year’s Champions League, where Liverpool came from a 2-1 loss at halftime to win 3-2 thanks to goals from Mo Salah and Jordan Henderson.
Prediction
Liverpool are expected to field a weaker staring IX against a Milan side that needs all three points. Liverpool however cannot be underestimated in any game, looking at the form of the team and certain key players. Considering Milan’s form and the circumstances around today’s game, a win or draw for AC Milan is the most probable outcome.
Lineup
AC Milan XI: Maignan; Kalulu, Tomori, Romagnoli, Hernandez; Kessie, Tonali, Krunic; Diaz, Messias Ibrahimovic
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Williams, Konate, Phillips, Tsimikas; Morton, Minamino, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Salah, Origi, Mane
