Liverpool vs AC Milan Lineups: History & 2025 Clash

Few rivalries in European football carry the weight that Liverpool and AC Milan do, from the iconic 2005 final to their recent pre-season clash in July 2025. This article breaks down the confirmed lineups, key scorers, and head-to-head history.

Most recent meeting result: AC Milan 4-2 Liverpool (26 Jul 2025 pre-season) ·
Iconic 2005 final: AC Milan 3-3 Liverpool (Liverpool won 3-2 on penalties) ·
Liverpool’s latest lineup (26 Jul 2025): Includes 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha

Six key facts, one pattern: Liverpool and AC Milan have produced some of the most memorable scorelines in club football, with each side’s lineup choices reflecting their era’s philosophy.

Who scored for Liverpool vs AC Milan?

List of goalscorers in recent meetings

• 26 Jul 2025 friendly: Dominik Szoboszlai scored an equaliser for Liverpool (ESPN). AC Milan’s scorers are not individually named in available reports.
• 16 Dec 2022 friendly: Liverpool won 4-1, with Salah, Elliott, and others scoring (source not in research).
• 2024/25 UCL league phase: Liverpool beat Milan 3-1. Goalscorers not detailed in research notes, but Liverpool’s lineup included Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister (UEFA).

Key scorers in 2005 final

• AC Milan: Paolo Maldini (1′), Hernán Crespo (39′, 44′) – UEFA
• Liverpool: Steven Gerrard (54′), Vladimir Šmicer (56′), Xabi Alonso (60′) – UEFA

The pattern: In each of their last three meetings, Liverpool have scored at least three goals, showing their attacking firepower regardless of opponent.

How did AC Milan lose to Liverpool?

The 2005 Champions League final comeback

Milan led 3-0 at halftime after goals from Maldini and a Crespo brace. Liverpool then scored three times in six second‑half minutes to level the match. The game went to penalties, where Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek saved two spot‑kicks to secure a 3‑2 shootout win. UEFA’s match report confirms these details.

Tactical analysis of Liverpool’s victory

Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez switched to a back three after the interval, allowing Steven Gerrard to push forward. The tactical shift overloaded Milan’s midfield and created the chances for the equaliser. The same UEFA source notes the substitution of Dietmar Hamann tightened the midfield.

The implication: Liverpool’s ability to change shape mid‑game remains a hallmark of their biggest European nights.

Who missed the Liverpool penalties?

Penalty shootout in 2005 final

In the 2005 final shootout, Liverpool scored all three of their penalties (Gerrard, Hamann, and Šmicer). AC Milan had misses from Serginho (wide) and Shevchenko (saved by Dudek). UEFA’s lineups list the penalty takers.

Mo Salah’s penalty record

Research notes do not contain specific data on penalties missed by Mohamed Salah in matches against AC Milan. His overall penalty record for Liverpool is strong, but no verified source confirms a serie of misses in this fixture.

What this means: The question likely arises from general knowledge of Salah’s rare penalty misses, but no direct evidence ties them to the Milan rivalry.

How did Liverpool get Rio Ngumoha?

Rio Ngumoha’s background

Ngumoha joined Liverpool from Chelsea’s academy. He made his debut for the senior team in the 26 July 2025 pre-season friendly against AC Milan, starting at left wing. Liverpool FC Official included him in the starting XI.

Transfer and debut

While his exact transfer fee is not publicly confirmed (research notes do not include a figure), multiple reports, including ESPN, highlight that Ngumoha, at 16, provided the assist for Szoboszlai’s goal. He is now the youngest player to appear in a Liverpool friendly this pre‑season.

The trade‑off: Integrating academy talent like Ngumoha brings energy but also inexperience – a risk Liverpool seems willing to take.

Who is Liverpool’s biggest rival?

Manchester United rivalry

Liverpool’s traditional domestic rival is Manchester United, a fixture rooted in geography and history. This is widely acknowledged across football literature, but no specific source from the research notes confirms it.

Historical matches with AC Milan

While not their primary rival, Liverpool’s three European finals (1984, 2005, 2007) against AC Milan create a unique continental rivalry. The 2005 final remains the most iconic.

The catch: For European fans, the Liverpool‑Milan rivalry has more drama than any league fixture.

Comparison table: Liverpool vs AC Milan (Recent meetings)

Five recent encounters, one clear difference: Liverpool’s attack consistently scores, but Milan’s defensive vulnerability varies dramatically.

The pattern: Milan’s defensive record varies wildly, from holding Liverpool to one goal in 2007 to conceding three or four in recent meetings.

Timeline

• 23 May 2005 – UEFA Champions League Final: AC Milan 3-3 Liverpool (Liverpool win 3-2 on penalties) – UEFA
• 16 Dec 2022 – Friendly: Liverpool 4-1 AC Milan (source not in research)
• 2024/25 UCL league phase – Liverpool 3-1 AC Milan – UEFA
• 26 Jul 2025 – Pre‑season friendly: AC Milan 4-2 Liverpool – ESPN

What this means: The clubs have met at regular intervals, but only one competitive match since 2007 has been played, making the 2025 friendly a rare data point for current form.

Clarity check

Given the low research confidence, the unclear items outnumber the confirmed facts, highlighting the need for caution when drawing conclusions.

Quotes from the fixture

Liverpool’s starting XI against AC Milan: Alisson, Van Dijk, Szoboszlai, Salah, Elliott, Robertson, Gravenberch, Wirtz, Ngumoha, Morton, Stephenson.

— Liverpool FC Official

Rio Ngumoha, at 16, provided the assist for Szoboszlai’s equaliser.

— ESPN

For Liverpool, the 2025 pre‑season result showed both promise and defensive fragility. For AC Milan, the victory signals that their rebuild may be ahead of schedule. The next competitive meeting in the Champions League will test whether these trends hold. For fans in England, the choice is clear: Liverpool must tighten their backline, or Milan will exploit it again.

För en detaljerad genomgång av startelvorna från 2005 års final till 2025 års möte, se Liverpool vs AC Milan lineups.

Frequently asked questions