AC Milan vs Liverpool

Stadio San Siro plays host to a blockbuster Champions League Group B encounter between the two former European champions AC Milan and Liverpool.

An unexpected 1-0 win at Atletico Madrid on Matchday 5 opened a window of opportunity for seven-time European champions Milan to reach the Champions League knock-outs. It’s a Herculean task, though, as ‘I Rossoneri’ have to beat a Liverpool side they lost to 3-2 in the reverse fixture back in September and hope the result in Portugal would go their way. But Milan’s recent experience against English adversaries cannot encourage the hosts, as they’ve gone winless in their last six such match-ups (D1, L5) since beating Arsenal in the 2011/12 Champions League last-16. What’s more, the Serie A heavyweights have only won one of their last nine home matches in the Champions League group stages (D5, L3), with three of their last four such contests yielding an identical 1-1 scoreline.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s 100% win ratio across their opening five Champions League group stage outings has catapulted them to the competition’s knock-out rounds with two games to spare. Jurgen Klopp’s men have been nothing short of remarkable in Europe this season, having scored 15 goals in their first five Group B fixtures, three more than the other three group participants combined. Though the outcome of this showdown won’t impact their qualification destiny, Liverpool will have a huge motive to win here, as they aim to become the first English side to complete the Champions League group stages with all six wins. That prospect looks to be very much in the realm of possibility, with the ‘Reds’ winning all five competitive games in the post-November international break by an aggregate score of 15-1.