Alisson: Liverpool’s goal is to regain Champions League title
Ahead of Liverpool’s 2021-22 Champions League opener against AC Milan, goalkeeper Alisson says the Reds’ ultimate goal is to regain the title they won in 2019.
Liverpool vs AC Milan: Line-ups
Liverpool
AC Milan
Cagey One Expected at Anfield
#1
Klopp has affirmed that Liverpool will “wait” for Elliott as he begins the long road to recovery, but the Reds cannot afford to dwell on the teenager’s poor fortunes for a second as they seek to better their quarter-final finish in last season’s Champions League, where Real Madrid sent them packing.
#2
Having claimed three wins and three clean sheets from four Premier League matches so far this term – as well as extending their unbeaten streak to 13 matches in competitive action – Liverpool will seek a fast start to action in Group B, which also comprises Iberian giants Porto and Atletico Madrid.
#3
Liverpool can also take encouragement from the fact that they have recorded three successive clean sheets in their last three Champions League home matches, and only one of their group-stage games at Anfield under Klopp has ended in defeat, although that came last season in a 2-0 loss to Atalanta BC.
#4
The 2021-22 season marks AC Milan’s return to the promised land of the Champions League after a painful eight-year absence from the top table – during which time they have only mustered two last-16 finishes in the Europa League – and five of their last six runs in the Champions League have also ended at that stage.
#5
The miracle of Istanbul still lives fresh in the minds of the Liverpool faithful, but AC Milan gleaned revenge two years later with a 2-1 victory in the 2007 final, which represents the most recent meeting between two sides with 13 European titles between them.
DPP Verdict
With both of these European giants making fast starts to their domestic title challenges and seeking to carry that momentum over to continental competition, a tense and closely-fought affair should be in store on Merseyside. There may be brief but well-documented history between Liverpool and AC Milan in the Champions League, but we are struggling to see either side gaining the upper hand and are backing a score draw in Wednesday’s opener.
