AC Milan lineup vs. Liverpool: Predicted XI for Champions League clash

AC Milan manager Paulo Fonseca has a huge decision to make up front for Tuesday's Champions League league phase opener against Liverpool at San Siro.

After failing to win any of their first three matches of the season, the Rossoneri thumped Venezia 4-0 in Saturday's Serie A contest, where Tammy Abraham won one penalty and scored another.

The Roma loanee still faces intense competition for the number nine spot from fellow new arrival Alvaro Morata, but his stellar display at the weekend should see him keep his Spanish counterpart at bay from the first whistle.

Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao also bagged a goal and assist apiece at the weekend and should support Abraham in an unchanged attacking trident, as the Portuguese winger prepares to square up to Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Pulisic and Abraham should be two of three ex-Chelsea men in Milan's first XI, as Ruben Loftus-Cheek - who overcame a heavy tackle to complete the full 90 at the weekend - is poised to join Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders in the midfield triumvirate.

There was no space for Fikayo Tomori in the starting lineup on Saturday, but reports in Italy suggest that he will now replace Matteo Gabbia to join Emerson Royal, Strahinja Pavlovic and Theo Hernandez in front of Mike Maignan.

Ismael Bennacer (ankle), Alessandro Florenzi (ACL) and Marco Sportiello (ligament) are all out of contention for the hosts, while Davide Calabria (leg) and Malick Thiaw (ankle) will need late assessments, but the former is expected to be given the all-clear.

AC Milan possible starting lineup: Maignan; Emerson, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Reijnders, Fofana, Loftus-Cheek; Pulisic, Abraham, Leao

> Click here to see how Liverpool could line up for this clash