This time final 12 months, Liverpool started their European marketing campaign within the sleepy location of Linz, the picturesque Austrian metropolis straddling the Danube River and most well-known for being the birthplace of Adolf Hitler.
Former boss Jurgen Klopp’s closing 12 months noticed him go on to gather passport stamps in Toulouse, Brussels, Prague and Bergamo, the place they misplaced to Atalanta. Stunning spots to spend a Thursday – however hardly any of European soccer’s famed locations.
Tonight, that may change because the Reds return to the most important stage in one in all world sport’s grandest arenas: the San Siro.
Enjoying AC Milan lately may not be the heavyweight match-up it was when these sides clashed within the 2005 and 2007 finals — however it’s nonetheless a gathering of two of the main protagonists of this competitors’s historical past, with 13 European Cups between them.
Liverpool are again the place they belong — and now it’s time for Arne Slot to show he too belongs at this stage. The Dutchman’s honeymoon interval was ended by Nottingham Forest on Saturday, simply the Reds’ second dwelling league defeat since October 2022.
Liverpool journey to the San Siro on Tuesday to face AC Milan on their Champions League return
The Reds are again the place they beneath nevertheless it’s time for Arne Slot to show himself at this stage
His European document is comparatively sound. Slot, who turns 46 right this moment, led Feyenoord to the Convention League closing – dropping to Jose Mourinho’s Roma – and received extra European video games than anybody within the Rotterdam membership’s historical past. Within the Champions League, he’s thus far unproven.
This competitors, although, is commonly what Liverpool bosses dwell and die by. After a couple of years within the wilderness, Klopp introduced the fantastic European nights again to Anfield, whereas Rafael Benitez’s continental exploits disguised a document of solely as soon as ending above third within the Premier League.
A shoddy efficiency and end result towards Forest will probably be swiftly parked if Slot can come up trumps within the San Siro. And he stated: ‘It’s a massive sport, not just for me however for us. Due to the historical past these two groups have and the venue it’s performed in.
‘Now we have loads of respect for the gamers and historical past of Milan. They’ve high quality gamers – we aren’t scared however we respect all of their gamers. They’re in good type, they’d an excellent 4-0 win on Saturday. Scared will not be the phrase.
‘Not solely the journalists have been dissatisfied with the end result towards Forest – the crew and me as nicely. After we beat United, the journalists and us have been actually optimistic. Final Saturday, we didn’t do as many good issues as we did towards United.
A shoddy efficiency and end result towards Forest will probably be swiftly parked if Slot can come up trumps within the San Siro
‘Tomorrow I count on a totally completely different sport towards Milan. We ought to be dissatisfied if we lose towards Forest once you work for Liverpool. If you’re not dissatisfied once you drop factors in a house sport towards Nottingham Forest, then one thing is unsuitable.’
Captain Virgil van Dijk can be excited to be again at Europe’s prime desk. ‘I missed it,’ he stated. ‘I can’t wait to be on the market listening to the Champions League tune and main out the boys. A membership like Liverpool must be within the Champions League.
‘We’re lastly again. Let’s go on the market and put a a lot better efficiency in than we did on Saturday as it’s wanted. In any other case, you’ll have a problem. I am actually trying ahead to it and hopefully all our followers travelling over there will probably be in excessive spirits and loud voices.’
He added that Saturday’s loss was ‘unacceptable’ and the crew will probably be working onerous to place it proper in Milan. ‘(We have to) maintain going, maintain working and ensure the performances do not go in that path.
Slot says the sport in Milan is massive because of the massive historical past between the 2 groups
‘Everyone knows how the ambiance can change however that can be a part of the affect from exterior which may have an effect on you. Now we have an excellent group that actually understands that Saturday was unacceptable and are dissatisfied. Everyone knows everybody can do higher.’
Van Dijk will not be the one one excited to be again within the Champions League and Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson says he’ll recognize it extra after a 12 months in Europe’s second-tier competitors.
The No 1 stated: ‘Think about one thing that you just actually love to do, and also you keep with out doing it for one 12 months, how trying ahead to it you’d be to do it once more. That’s the best way we really feel. Enjoying the Champions League was one of many causes that I got here right here to Europe from Brazil.
‘Not having the ability to play final season was actually onerous. However right here we’re once more after a very good season qualifying in a very tough league. We’re trying ahead to it.’
There are not any contemporary harm considerations for Liverpool regardless of a fiercely-contested battle with Forest on Saturday. Federico Chiesa has travelled to his homeland of Italy and is ready to make the bench for the primary time after his £10million transfer from Juventus.
Alisson says he’ll recognize the Champions League extra after a 12 months within the Europa League
When these two groups have been rubbing shoulders in European Cup finals in 2005 and 2007, Slot was enjoying for mid-table Dutch aspect NAC Breda. Would he have ever thought again then he can be managing Liverpool within the San Siro on his forty sixth birthday?
He has defied the percentages and persistently punched above his weight as a head coach to succeed in this stage however, as Liverpool lastly return to the place they belong at Europe’s prime desk, it’s time for Slot to show he belongs right here too.
