SM
Brighton vs. Southampton: 1 hr 13 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Zlatan Ibrahimovic missing as AC Milan return to Champions League at Anfield

:Headline: Zlatan Ibrahimovic missing as AC Milan return to Champions League at Anfield:
The seven-time European Cup winners travel to face Liverpool without the Swedish striker.
Sports Mole

AC Milan rejoin Europe's elite without the star power of injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic but coach Stefano Pioli believes they will prove they are worthy of their place.

The seven-time European Cup winners return to the Champions League for the first time since 2013-14 with a trip to Anfield to play Liverpool.

Ibrahimovic, who only made his comeback from four months out with a knee injury on Sunday against Lazio, has been left at home due to an Achilles problem.

And while the 39-year-old Swede may be their talisman Pioli insists they have gained enough important recent experience to be able to compete with more established sides after three Europa League campaigns in four years.

"Zlatan wanted to join the match (against Lazio) and of course after the match he had some inflammation," said Pioli.

"We hoped he could play but he still had pain so we don't want to risk tomorrow as it's a very important match and we have so many matches.

"We are very sorry for Zlatan because he always wants to play but he will be back soon.

"We are very well prepared. We had the Europa League and all those experiences allowed us to improve, to make mistakes and to grow.

"We are playing at a higher level but this is what we hoped for. This is a great opportunity for us, by raising the bar we can actually perform well.

"Though we have not played in the Champions League we know what to do.

"The group is very difficult and competitive with great experience in Europe but we want to write our history from tomorrow. We are very convinced about ourselves."

Milan's 32-year-old captain Simon Kjaer, who only has seven Champions League appearances to his name despite his vast experience, believes they have to make a statement against Jurgen Klopp's side.

"It is going to be a difficult match but in my opinion we need to go there and play like AC Milan," he said.

"We are there to demonstrate we are not on holiday. We are there to do something.

"This match is very special because we are back in the Champions League and we will play with great pleasure but we need to demonstrate we are back in the Champions League.

"We are in a very good position in our pathway and we have grown up so much, but we have to show that. We need to have the mindset that we can play against any team."

body check tags ::

amp_article__463725 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-09-14 15:42:56:
html db last update - 2021-09-14 15:42:56 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Click here for more stories about Liverpool

Share this article now:
LM
Read Next:
Jurgen Klopp almost turned off TV before 'Miracle of Istanbul'
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Zlatan Ibrahimovic Simon Kjaer Jurgen Klopp Stefano Pioli Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Jurgen Klopp almost turned off TV before 'Miracle of Istanbul'
Major boost for Man City as Liverpool defender ruled out of crunch PL fixture
Disaster for the holders: Slick Liverpool comfortably beat Real Madrid at Anfield
Manchester City planning Josko Gvardiol move?

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Preview: Man Utd vs. Everton - prediction, team news, lineups

1

PM

Major boost for Man City as Liverpool defender ruled out of crunch PL fixture

NEW

2

MB

Team News: West Ham vs. Arsenal injury, suspension list, predicted XIs

NEW

3

TN

Arteta provides vague Gabriel injury update ahead of West Ham encounter

4

AP

Major shock: Ex-Chelsea star 'keen' to rejoin Blues in 2025

5

MS

Preview: Spurs vs. Fulham - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PS

Preview: Liverpool vs. Man City - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PL

Preview: Real Madrid vs. Getafe - prediction, team news, lineups

8

PR

Gomez, Quansah or Konate? Predicted Liverpool XI against Man City

9

GQ

'They will get chances': Maresca hints at Chelsea rotation across December

10

'W


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .