epa09426697 Milan?s Spanish forward Brahim Diaz (center) celebrates with his team-mates after scoring a goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match UC Sampdoria and AC Milan at Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, Italy, 23 August 2021. EPA-EFE/SIMONE ARVEDA

Milan are back in the Champions League after seven years, but Olivier Giroud is on the bench and Zlatan Ibrahimovic injured against Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool at Anfield, though Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mane don’t start.

It kicks off at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Inter-Real Madrid on the LIVEBLOG.

Champions League Liveblog: Inter-Real Madrid and Liverpool-Milan

The Rossoneri return to Europe’s top table after a seven-year absence and they debut against Liverpool, who they famously faced in two fairly recent Finals.

Ibrahimovic has not made the trip due to an Achilles tendon issue, while Giroud has not played since testing positive for COVID-19 three weeks ago.

Ante Rebic therefore again starts upfront, with Giroud ready to come off the bench against a tiring defence, supported by Brahim Diaz, Alexis Saelemaekers and Rafael Leao.

Ismael Bennacer gets the nod in midfield, as Sandro Tonali is recovering from flu.

Liverpool miss injured Elliott, so Jordan Henderson steps in for Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League side.

Their biggest threat is upfront, with ex-Roma man Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and surprisingly Divock Origi, as Sadio Mane is on the bench and Roberto Firmino is unavailable.

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker is another former Serie A player, but the other big news is Virgil van Dijk on the bench.

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Keita; Salah, Jota, Origi

Liverpool bench: Adrian, Kelleher, Van Dijk, Konate, Thiago, Milner, Mane, Tsimikas, Phillips, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Minamino

Milan: Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Bennacer, Kessie; Saelemaekers, Brahim Diaz, Leao; Rebic

Milan bench: Tatarusanu, Jungdal, Ballo, Tonali, Giroud, Romagnoli, Kalulu, Florenzi, Maldini, Gabbia

Ref: Marciniak (POL)

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