AC Milan legend Kaka is backing the Rossoneri to beat Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool during Wednesday night’s Champions League clash on Merseyside, as he told Gazzetta dello Sport, while sending a warning to Virgil van Dijk.
Would you believe us if we told you that AC Milan, seven-time European champions, have never stepped onto the hallowed turf of Anfield?
Remarkably, tomorrow night will be the first time two of the continent’s biggest and most historic of sides have ever gone head-to-head in front of an expectant Kop.
Kaka was in the starting XI the last time Milan and Liverpool met all the way back in 2007, when the most trademark of Pippo Inzaghi’s braces secured Champions League glory as well as revenge for the so-called Miracle of Istanbul two years prior.
And the 2007 Ballon d’Or winner believes his old employers can repeat the trick this week during their first appearance in Europe’s premiere club competition in nearly a decade.
Will AC Milan beat Liverpool at Anfield?
“(Milan have) a good mix of young and experienced players. I lived it, I know how important it is to grow alongside (Paolo) Maldini, Cafu, (Andriy) Shevchenko, Inzaghi, (Alessandro) Costacurta, people who did not think about the expiry of the contract but only about the good of the club,” Kaka said.
“Today, it’s up to (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic, (Simon) Kjaer, (Olivier) Giroud: they will show the way, there is no lack of quality in the squad.
“And then Milan returns with a different hunger: Liverpool have already won (the Champions League) and have been at the top for years.
“But the enthusiasm of those who have dreamed of playing this tournament for a long time can make the difference.”
Liverpool can boast arguably Europe’s finest centre-half in their ranks, but Kaka believes Virgil van Dijk will have his work cut out against a striker who will turn 40 in three weeks.
“He will weigh in at Anfield, for his teammates and for the Liverpool defenders,” Kaka said of the evergreen Ibrahimovic.
“With someone like him you can’t get distracted, even if your name is Van Dijk.”
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