Zlatan Ibrahimovic missing as AC Milan return to Champions League at Anfield

Ibrahimovic, who only made his comeback from four months out with a knee injury on Sunday against Lazio, has been left at home due to an Achilles problem.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss AC Milan’s Champions League return at Liverpool because of injury (Niall Carson/PA)

AC Milan rejoin Europe’s elite without the star power of injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic but coach Stefano Pioli believes they will prove they are worthy of their place.

The seven-time European Cup winners return to the Champions League for the first time since 2013-14 with a trip to Anfield to play Liverpool.