Captain Virgil van Dijk shares his excitement at Liverpool's return to the Champions League while stressing his side will need to improve against AC Milan after the shock loss to Nottingham Forest

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk cannot wait to return to the Champions League(Image: Dave Howarth - CameraSport via Getty Images)

For a club with such a proud, boastful history of European success, it’s a peculiar fact that Tuesday’s visit to AC Milan will represent Liverpool's first Champions League fixture in 18 months.

Klopp and his backroom staff have gone and the midfield department has been rebuilt, with Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo taking the places of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita.



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The scale of the upheaval between the summers of 2023 and 2024 has been enough to label Liverpool as something of a club in transition, particularly when the executive-level movement of CEO of football Michael Edwards, Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon and sporting director Richard Hughes is factored into the equation.

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The Liverpool skipper took a moment to reflect when it was put to him on Saturday afternoon that Tuesday’s game will be his first in the Champions League as club captain.

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“[My first Champions League game] as club captain, yeah,” Van Dijk says.

And this Liverpool Echo guide to the competition is the perfect companion to guide Reds fans through the new-look tournament.

We look at the key factors for new boss Arne Slot as he looks to add the latest chapter in the proud European history of the club, and the players who can help him achieve that.

We break down Liverpool's opposition in the league stage, look at the 10 top stars in the competition and also turn the spotlight on all 36 clubs battling it out for the trophy.

And, of course, we take a trip down memory lane and relive some of those wonderful European nights.

A club like Liverpool needs to be in the Champions League and we are finally back and let's go out there and put a much better performance in than we did today as it is needed otherwise you are going to have an issue.

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“I'm really looking forward to it and hopefully all our fans travelling over there to support us will be in high spirits and loud voices.”

Beyond the chance to begin a brand new era for the Champions League on the right foot in an all-star clash between two clubs who share 13 European Cups, there is also the pragmatic opportunity to quickly shake the shock 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday out of the hair.

Callum Hudson-Odoi’s expert finish to a razor-sharp counter-attack condemned Slot to his first defeat as Reds boss since succeeding Klopp and while he will want to quickly move on, the visit to the Rossoneri provides him with a way of showcasing his tactical acumen in the European game in what will be one of the ties of match-day one.

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Callum Hudson-Odoi celebrates the goal that condemned Liverpool to a shock 1-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Slot’s achievement of getting an unfancied Feyenoord to the UEFA Conference League final two years ago was a major tick in the box when his credentials and suitability were being assessed back in the spring.

Defeat came in that particular game to Jose Mourinho’s Roma but it was the ability to get the team to the showpiece in the first place that was judged with more value than the result of a one-off game itself.

However, the demands, pressure and expectation of a club like Liverpool - particularly in the Champions League - are quite different from what was hoped and wished for at De Kuip.

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Van Dijk adds: “We need to keep going and keep working and make sure the performances don't go in that direction.