Liverpool vs AC Milan

Al Maktoum Stadium plays host to a mammoth mid-season friendly between familiar foes Liverpool and AC Milan.

Liverpool’s warm-weather preparation was off to an embarrassing start as Lyon trounced Mohamed Salah & Co 3-1 in their first mid-season friendly. In stark contrast to that underwhelming loss in Dubai, Jurgen Klopp’s men rounded off their pre-World Cup competitive assignments on a high, registering four straight wins across all competitions, including a 3-1 humbling of Southampton in their last Premier League outing. Despite boasting a formidable attacking line-up, scoring has not been the Merseyside heavyweights’ strong suit of late. Indeed, the ‘Reds’ have netted under 1.5 goals in six of their last ten matches. But they registered six shutouts during that same timeframe, suggesting a low-scoring affair could be on the cards.

Meanwhile, AC Milan succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool’s fierce domestic rivals Arsenal at the weekend, ending a high-flying run of four unbeaten matches (W3, D1). Interestingly, four of Milan’s last six games have yielded an identical 2-1 scoreline (W2, L2), which was the case in their most recent encounter against Liverpool in last season’s Champions League group stages (L1). That reverse forms part of the reigning Serie A champions’ humiliating run of four consecutive H2H defeats against the ‘Reds,’ all of which saw ‘I Rossoneri’ concede 2+ goals. Stefano Pioli’s men have kept just two clean sheets across their last nine fixtures outside the San Siro, indicating Liverpool’s star-studded frontline could have a field day again.