Two European giants lock horns as Liverpool visit AC Milan on matchday one of the Champions League.
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AC Milan vs Liverpool odds
Find the latest match odds for AC Milan vs Liverpool. All odds are provided by our best-reviewed online football bookies. Odds are subject to change.
⚡Quick AC Milan vs Liverpool betting tips
AC Milan vs Liverpool predictions
The new-look Champions League gets under way with a brand new format this week, but AC Milan vs Liverpool is a traditional, old-school European encounter. It is also one of the standout fixtures of matchday one.
There is no group stage any more in the continent’s top competition. It has been replaced with a league phase in which all 36 teams (an increase of four from last term) are ranked in the same table.
Each side will play eight matches in total, four at home and four away. The top eight teams in the standings will go directly through to the round of 16, while those ranked between ninth and 24th will contest the knockout round play-offs.
Got it? If not, everything should become clearer once the action gets under way.
Needless to say, both AC Milan and Liverpool will be looking to get off to a winning start under the floodlights at San Siro.
What a game this could be. Milan and Liverpool are two clubs arguably defined more by the Champions League than either the Premier League or Serie A.
With seven titles to their name Milan are the second-most successful team in the history of the tournament, while Liverpool are joint-third alongside Bayern Munich with six triumphs apiece.
They have each beaten the other to claim the prize. Liverpool produced one of the most stunning comebacks in football history in the 2005 final, bouncing back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with a star-studded Milan team before winning on penalties.
The Rossoneri, led by Carlo Ancelotti, got their revenge two years later with a less eventful 2-1 victory over Liverpool in Athens.
Liverpool have reached a further three finals since then, winning one. But Milan have had little to cheer in this competition in recent times.
They did reach the semi-finals the season before last but were beaten pretty comfortably by, of all teams, their city rivals Inter. Aside from that campaign, Milan have not gone beyond the quarter-finals since their last victory in 2007.
Which of these two titans will be celebrating at 10pm on Tuesday?
AC Milan vs Liverpool betting tips
Liverpool and AC Milan begin their Champions League campaigns at San Siro on Tuesday night.
Liverpool to win – 9/10 (bet365)
After winning their first three games under Arne Slot, Liverpool suffered a setback in a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest last time out.
The Reds were not at their best at Anfield and their manager will be looking for a response in Italy.
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They are facing an AC Milan side with problems of their own, although the Rossoneri did ease some of the pressure on themselves with a 4-0 thumping of Venezia last time out.
Still, that was Milan’s first league win under Paulo Fonseca, on whom the jury is still out following his appointment in the summer.
Fonseca is still searching for the right balance at San Siro, and while Slot is also new in the job Liverpool are a more settled, coherent side. That should make all the difference when this pair lock horns.
⚽ Back Liverpool to win at 9/10 with bet365 ⚽
Under 2.5 goals – 11/8 (bet365)
AC Milan’s four Serie A games have all been eventful, featuring a combined 15 goals. Yet there is reason to believe this game will not be as high-scoring.
Liverpool are a more measured team under Slot, who prefers control to chaos. The Dutchman has made no secret of his desire to protect leads rather than chasing to extend them.
If the Reds go ahead at San Siro, game management will be key. They will not open up if that risks the match becoming stretched.
And although Milan have scored nine goals against Torino, Parma, Lazio and Venezia, we will have to see how their attack stacks up against a team of Liverpool’s quality.
This should be an entertaining match, but do not expect it to be laden with goals.
⚽ Choose under 2.5 goals at 11/8 with bet365 ⚽
Darwin Nunez to score any time – 8/5 (bet365)
This is clearly a punt rather than a banker. Darwin Nunez has not yet started a game this season and his minutes off the bench have been limited.
Nevertheless, it could be worth a flutter on him finding the back of the net against AC Milan on matchday one of the Champions League.
After his team looked a little toothless at the weekend, Slot may be tempted to freshen things up in attack.
Nunez is well suited to a counter-attacking game plan and the Reds may indeed have less of the ball than normal in this one.
The Uruguay international is by no means a reliable finisher, as anyone who has watched him over the last couple of years can attest.
But he does get himself into dangerous positions and his physicality makes him a tough customer to deal with.
⚽ Choose Darwin Nunez to score any time at 8/5 with bet365 ⚽
📺 How to watch AC Milan vs Liverpool
- Location: San Siro, Milan, Italy.
- Date and time: Tuesday 17 September 2024, 8pm.
- How to watch: Amazon Prime Video.
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About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
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