Liverpool v Milan predictions: Reds can rule at their Anfield fortress

Free Champions League predictions, best bets and analysis for Liverpool v Milan on Wednesday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Liverpool and under 3.5 goals
1pt 29-20 Coral

Team news

Liverpool

Harvey Elliott joins Roberto Firmino, Takumi Minamino and Neco Williams on the sidelines for Liverpool with a serious ankle injury he suffered against Leeds.

Milan

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is out but Olivier Giroud is available again after missing Sunday’s win over Lazio with Covid.

Match preview

Liverpool and Milan are synonymous with European Cup glory, amassing 13 titles between them but only one side are in serious contention of adding to their impressive haul this season.

Jurgen Klopp led the Reds to the top of the Champions League mountain in 2019 and they have all the tools needed to climb to the summit again, despite being placed in a tricky group featuring familiar foes.

The Anfield faithful won’t need reminding about their two previous meetings with Milan, both of which have occurred in Champions League finals, the first one later dubbed The Miracle of Istanbul.

That 2005 final was an all-time classic between two European heavyweights but those hoping for a repeat dose should expect a more one-sided game as the Reds are odds-on to beat a team who haven't played Champions League football in eight years.

What a reintroduction to top level European competition it will be for Milan in front of a full house at Anfield, a venue that suffered more than most from the absence of supporters last season.

Liverpool’s 2020-21 Champions League campaign was ended on Merseyside by Real Madrid at the quarter-final stage to the sound silence, a rare quiet moment for a team who have made plenty of noise on the European stage under Klopp, amassing 25 wins from 44 matches in this competition.

Nathaniel Phillips and Ozan Kabak were paired together at centre-half for both legs of the tie with Real and the importance of Virgil van Dijk’s return to fitness can't be overstated. Liverpool have kept three clean sheets in their first four Premier League matches of the campaign with the Dutchman back in the side.

The Reds impressed in a 3-0 win at Leeds last weekend, when Klopp’s men proved solid at the back and deadly up front as Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah caused the Whites a serious headache.

Only Chelsea have given Liverpool a real test and it looks a tall order for Milan to take anything from this game, particularly given their record of one win from 17 trips to England.

A 100 per cent start to the new Serie A season should have given them some confidence and head coach Stefano Pioli has done well to make the Rossoneri relevant again, guiding them to second place last season.

That strong domestic form didn't translate to Europe though as they won two of eight Europa League matches last season before going out to Manchester United at the quarter-final stage.

The threat from Milan looks minimal in this group and with a double-header against Atletico Madrid to come for Liverpool, making a strong start is a must.

Key stat

There have been no more than three goals in 18 of Liverpool’s last 20 home matches.

Inside info

Liverpool

Penalty taker Mohamed Salah
Free-kick wizard Trent Alexander-Arnold
Aerial set-piece threat Virgil van Dijk
Card magnet Fabinho

Milan

Penalty taker Olivier Giroud/Franck Kessie
Free-kick wizardSamu Castillejo
Set-piece aerial threatOlivier Giroud
Card magnetFranck Kessie

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