This will be the Rossoneri's first Champions League campaign since 2013/14 but they will unfortunately be without the services of one key man in their opening game.

After a seven-season absence from Europe's premier club competition, Italian giants AC Milan are gearing up for their much-awaited return to the UEFA Champions League. Unfortunately, the Rossoneri will be without one key player for their interesting trip to Liverpool.

That man is none other than Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the iconic striker who has won trophies in England, Spain, France, and Italy just to name a few. The veteran forward only recently made his return for Pioli's side but has unfortunately returned to the treatment table, ruling him out of Wednesday's showdown.

The 39-year-old had been recovering from a knee injury he picked up back in May which ruled him out for Euro 2020 and the start of the 2021/22 campaign. The Swedish icon, in fact, only made his debut this season over the weekend in Milan's 2-0 victory over Lazio, coming off the bench and scoring just over the hour mark.

However, the manager confirmed after the game that Zlatan took a knock to his Achilles that kept him out of training and will thus not be risked in the trip to Anfield. Speaking to Sky Italia, Pioli said: "He ended Milan-Lazio with tendon inflammation, today he tried to train but will not be risked." 

This will be a huge blow for last season's Serie A runners-up ahead of their first UEFA Champions League campaign since 2013/14. The Rossoneri would have loved to celebrate their return with a memorable victory over the Reds, a team whom they faced in the 2005 and 2007 finals. Triumphing at the iconic Anfield is never easy but the presence of an experienced player and serial winner such as Ibrahimovic would have helped their cause.

Regardless, Klopp's side cannot afford to underestimate the Italians. Giroud and Co. have begun the Italian top-flight campaign in incredible fashion, having won all three of their opening fixtures. Furthermore, the San Siro outfit have conceded only one goal so far, but in all fairness, Salah and Co. will be a tougher test for their back four.