Preview Dubai Super Cup: The lowdown on AC Milan

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Liverpool play their second match in the Dubai Super Cup against AC Milan on Friday afternoon.

The Reds will meet their Italian opponents at Al-Maktoum Stadium, with kick-off set for 3.30pm GMT.

Jürgen Klopp’s outfit were beaten 3-1 by Olympique Lyonnais in their opening outing of the tournament – before also narrowly missing out 5-3 in a penalty shootout for a bonus point.

Here, we take a closer look at AC Milan…

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Season so far

The reigning Serie A champions currently sit second in the standings, eight points behind early domestic pacesetters Napoli.

Milan have played 15 league games to date this term, with 10 wins, three draws and just two defeats.

Stefano Pioli’s men have also been in Champions League action, qualifying second from Group E behind Chelsea to progress into the knockout stages.

Recent games

The clash with Liverpool is Milan’s second Dubai Super Cup fixture.

They took on the Reds’ fellow Premier League outfit Arsenal on Tuesday and were beaten 2-1 by the Gunners at Al-Maktoum Stadium.

Martin Odegaard and Reiss Nelson both struck during the first half, while Fikayo Tomori reduced the deficit for Milan late on.

Arsenal also claimed a bonus point with victory in the post-match penalty shootout, earning a 4-3 win from the spot.

Top scorer

Similarly to last season, Olivier Giroud is leading the way in Milan’s goalscoring charts.

He scored 14 goals in 2021-22 to leave him top of the standings alongside winger Rafael Leao.

Giroud has again begun the season in impressive fashion, finding the back of the net nine times in 19 outings across all competitions.

Leao is also hot on his heels himself having struck seven times already this term in his 20 appearances.

Neither player, though, will feature against Liverpool on Friday due to their involvement at the World Cup.

A familiar face

Reds supporters are set to see a man they know extremely well, however.

Following his departure from Anfield in the summer, the game could mark the first reacquaintance with fan favourite Divock Origi.

The striker left Merseyside a hero, having produced so many unforgettable match-winning moments during the Klopp era.

Origi has featured 14 times for Milan this season, with 10 as a substitute, recording one goal and one assist so far.

Previous meetings

The two teams were pitted together in the Champions League group phase in the 2021-22 campaign.

It was the first time the Reds and Milan had met in an official capacity since the final of the very same tournament in 2007.

Liverpool claimed victory in both meetings last year – with a 2-1 success at San Siro in December following a 3-2 win at Anfield previously.

Current Milan player Origi was the man who separated the sides in Italy before he swapped teams.

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