Champions LeagueAC Milan v Liverpool: Team news

The Reds make their return to the elite European competition on Tuesday night, meeting I Rossoneri at San Siro in an 8pm BST kick-off.

Head coach Arne Slot named a 23-man travelling squad for the fixture, which included summer signing Federico Chiesa back in his home country, Italy.

The new No.14 could make his first appearance for the club in the league-phase tie but is unlikely to be included in the starting XI.

“He is, for the first time, in our team selection [squad]. And since I said it’s the first time he’s in our team selection, it would be a big surprise for him and for everyone if he would start tomorrow,” Slot told the media on Monday night.

“So I don’t think you should expect that he starts but he can make a few minutes for the first time tomorrow if we need him. That is something we will see tomorrow.

“Don’t expect him to be there in the starting line-up because he has been with Juve [former club Juventus] training on his own for a long time, now with us for a few weeks, had some training time.

“It is too early for him to play 90 but hopefully he can make his first minutes in the upcoming fixtures.”

Slot was also asked about midfielder Alexis Mac Allister during his pre-match press conference, and whether the Argentinian may be included in any line-up rotation.

“I think you saw I took him off after 60 minutes, or somewhere around 60 minutes, against Nottingham Forest,” the boss replied.

“That also had to do with him not playing the full 90 minutes with the national team, being out for a few days with an injury, so that had a bit to do with rotation.

“I think he is able to play tomorrow again, 60 or 90 minutes, and we will see the decision I will make tomorrow. But he is definitely, like the other 22, an important player for us.”

Milan come into this game on the back of a 4-0 Serie A victory over Venezia last Saturday – their first win in the division this season.

Head coach Paulo Fonseca, who was appointed in June, will definitely be without goalkeeper Marco Sportiello, defenders Alessandro Florenzi and Malick Thiaw, and midfielder Ismael Bennacer for the visit of the Reds.

Luka Jovic has not been named in Milan’s Champions League squad for the league phase.

At his pre-match press conference, Fonseca discussed his squad plans for a week that also sees Milan meet city rivals Internazionale this coming weekend.

“The same players can play [both games] but I can also have the possibility of changing in my head,” he said on Monday. “This week we have three games and I have to think about all the games.

“Tomorrow is the most important because it is the next one, but I cannot forget that we have the derby in the next Serie A game.”

Asked specifically about the depth of his options in midfield, Fonseca said: “We had Bennacer’s injury but we also have a lot of young players like [Kevin] Zeroli, [Silvano] Vos who has just arrived and is very good. I think we have good players in this position.”

Last match

AC Milan 4-0 Venezia (September 14): Maignan, Royal, Gabbia, Pavlovic, Hernandez, Reijnders, Fofana, Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, Leao, Abraham.

Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest (September 14): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Salah, Diaz, Jota.

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