AC Milan have been dealt a major injury blow ahead of their clash with Liverpool. The Italian giants will lock horns with Arne Slot’s side at the San Siro on Tuesday night as the new-look Champions League begins.
This season, a “Swiss model” has been used, increasing the number of competing sides from 32 to 36 in the tournament. To ensure clubs play at least eight games, a league phase has been developed in place of the former group stage system.
Fixtures for the Champions League are decided by UEFA by a drawing; clubs are not required to play one another. Slot will be driven to start winning for Liverpool, who are playing in their first European tournament without Jurgen Klopp in the dugout in nine years.
In the meantime, Paulo Fonesca, who took over as Milan’s head coach in the summer after Stefano Pioli was fired, will be trying to secure his first victory of the year. But the Rossoneri have unfortunately suffered an injury blow that might prove costly.
Ismaël Bennacer was forced to leave the squad due to an injury he sustained during training, as announced by the Algerian FA. The 26-year-old midfielder assisted his nation in a 2-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea on Thursday night in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.
An official statement from the Algerian FA, translated from Arabic, says: “Bennacer gets injured in training and is not allowed to play against Liberia.” Vladimir Petkovic, the national coach, planned the final training session at the National Technical Center in Sidi Moussa for this Sunday morning before.
“During this session, midfielder Ismael Bennacer suffered an injury and was forced to withdraw without continuing training. After undergoing medical tests, it was confirmed that the player will not be able to participate in next Tuesday’s match against Liberia.”
Bennacer started Milan’s opening fixture of the Serie A season, but he was pulled shortly before the hour-mark. The Algeria international was then an unused substitute in the second game of the campaign, which the Rossoneri lost 2-1 to Parma.
Then, in the final match before the international break, Bennacer was omitted from the matchday squad altogether. Liverpool have an injury concern of their own; last week, Lionel Scaloni confirmed that Alexis Mac Allister was in ‘pain’ after a training session.
As quoted by the Evening Standard the Argentina boss told TyC Sports: “Alexis didn’t train because he was overloaded, he was in pain. It always happens to us, they come out to do their part.
“We’ll wait and see how he responds today. It doesn’t change our way of playing much because we’ll stay the same, but it’s true that he gives us play, set pieces. The rest of the team is more or less decided.”
The Reds midfielder was then forced off after scoring for his country against Chile. According to Fabrizo Romano the knock is not thought to be serious, though, and he’s expected to return to action when Liverpool face Nottingham Forest this weekend should Arne Slot decide to risk him.
