Liverpool Begins UEFA Champions League Campaign Against AC Milan

Liverpool is set to kick off their UEFA Champions League campaign with an away match against the Italian giants AC Milan on September 18 at the San Siro Stadium. The Reds, who have secured the UCL title six times, last claimed victory in the prestigious tournament in the 2018-19 season.

This season marks significant changes for Liverpool. Their long-time manager, Jurgen Klopp, stepped down after nine successful years with the club, concluding his tenure at the end of the 2023-24 season. Arne Slot has been appointed as Klopp’s successor, bringing new strategies to the team.

On the player roster, Liverpool will be without midfielder Thiago Alcantara, who retired following the last season. However, they have reinforced their squad by acquiring Italian winger Federico Chiesa from Juventus.

The 2024-25 season begins with a new UEFA Champions League format. A total of 36 clubs from top European competitions will compete in a league phase, which replaces the former group stage. Each club will play eight matches against different teams, splitting the games equally between home and away.

The results from these matches will determine the club’s ranking on the league table. The top eight teams will progress directly to the round of 16, while clubs ranked 9th to 24th will face off in play-offs, aiming to secure the remaining spots in the round of 16.

Liverpool has been drawn against clubs such as AC Milan, RB Leipzig, Bologna, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Girona, LOSC Lille, and PSV Eindhoven. Their away fixtures are scheduled with AC Milan, RB Leipzig, Girona, and PSV Eindhoven.

The opening match on September 18 against AC Milan, a club with seven UCL titles, is expected to be a thrilling encounter. The history between these two teams includes two UCL final meetings, with Liverpool triumphing in 2004-05 and Milan claiming victory in 2006-07.

One of the most anticipated matches for Liverpool’s current campaign will be against Real Madrid, the defending champions. Scheduled for November 28 at Anfield, this match will be a crucial test, given Liverpool’s past finals losses to Real Madrid in 2017-18 and 2021-22.

The league phase of the UCL 2024-25 season will begin on September 17 and conclude on January 30. The final match of the competition is slated for May 31 at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.

In addition to the UEFA Champions League, Liverpool will compete in domestic tournaments such as the Premier League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup this season.