If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >

Liverpool vs. AC Milan lineups, team news: Florian Wirtz ramps up for Reds season with tour of Asia

Kyle Bonn

Liverpool vs. AC Milan lineups, team news: Florian Wirtz ramps up for Reds season with tour of Asia image

Liverpool's tour of Asia begins with a bang as they meet Italian giants AC Milan in Hong Kong on Saturday.

It's possible that Liverpool's new record signing Florian Wirtz could make his first appearance in front of supporters, having made the trip with the Reds' squad alongside fellow new signing Jeremie Frimpong.

Liverpool opened their pre-season slate back on July 13 with a 3-1 win over Preston North End, with Frimpong getting off the bench, but Wirtz was not part of the squad for that game.

The German was on hand for a behind-closed-doors scrimmage with Stoke City on July 20, in which Darwin Nunez bagged a hat-trick, but now he will get his first taste of Liverpool action in a stadium of supporters.

The Sporting News runs through the latest team news and injury updates for this pre-season fixture.

BET: Get £30 in free bets from a £5 stake when you sign up to bet on Liverpool vs. AC Milan with Paddy Power

Liverpool vs. AC Milan lineups, team news

In the Stoke friendly, Arne Slot tinkered with a three-man back line, but he is likely to switch back to his preferred 4-2-3-1 as the preseason ramps up.

Alexis Mac Allister is recovering from a niggling injury from the end of last season and has yet to appear in preseason, but he has begun training with the squad and is likely to get friendly minutes moving forward.

There are still questions about how Slot will put his lineup together as the season nears. New signing Jeremie Frimpong is the presumed starter at right-back, but Conor Bradley impressed last season as Trent Alexander-Arnold was phased out and could challenge for minutes behind the attack-minded new arrival. The left-back position is even more in question, as Andy Robertson battles with new signing Milos Kerkez, and Alisson will be challenged in goal by Giorgi Mamardashvili unless the Georgian secures another loan.

With a striker yet to be officially signed, Darwin Nunez remains the first-choice No. 9 until they secure Hugo Ekitike.

Liverpool predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Alisson (GK) — Frimpong, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez — Gravenberch, Mac Allister — Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo — Nunez

Injured: Mac Allister (muscle, doubt)

MORE: All the latest Arsenal news

The AC Milan squad has turned over some this summer, most notably after the sale of Tijjani Reijnders to Manchester City. Theo Hernandez also departed to join Saudi side Al Hilal. Additionally, Kyle Walker and Joao Felix finished loan deals, captain Davide Calabria and striker Luka Jovic saw their contracts expire, and defender Pierre Kalulu made his Juventus loan deal permanent.

They have yet to identify replacements for many of them, but the Rossoneri did bring in Real Madrid legend Luka Modric on a free transfer and signed defensive midfielder Samuele Ricci from Torino. Ricci made first appearance against Arsenal, and Modric may be involved here depending on whether he takes a longer break after the Club World Cup.

AC Milan predicted lineup (3-5-2, right to left): Terracianno (GK) — Tomori, Thiaw, Pavlovic — Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Ricci, Musah, Bartesaghi — Pulisic, Leao

Injured: None

How to watch Liverpool vs. AC Milan: Live stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch this pre-season friendly across selected areas of the world's major regions:

 DateTimeTV channelStreaming
U.K.Sat, Jul 2612:30 p.m. BSTLFCTV
USASat, Jul. 267:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. PT —Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo
CanadaSat, Jul. 267:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. PT —LFCTV
AustraliaSat, Jul. 269:30 p.m. AEST —Paramount+
IndiaSat, Jul 265 p.m. ISTLFCTV

Liverpool pre-season fixtures

DateTime (BST)MatchLocation
Sun, Jul. 133 p.m.Preston 1-3 LiverpoolDeepdale (Preston, England)
Sun, Jul. 203:30 p.m.Liverpool 5-0 Stoke CityAXA Training Centre (Kirkby, England)
Sat, Jul. 2612:30 p.m.Liverpool vs. AC MilanKai Tak Sports Park (Kowloon, Hong Kong)
Wed, Jul. 3011:30 a.m.Liverpool vs. Yokohama FMNissan Stadium (Yokohama, Japan)
Mon, Aug. 45 p.m.Liverpool vs. Athletic ClubAnfield (Liverpool, England)

 

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.