Liverpool vs AC Milan Lineups: 2005 Final & 2025 Friendly
Few football matches have ever turned a 3-0 halftime deficit into a penalty shootout victory, and the 2005 UEFA Champions League final between Liverpool and AC Milan did exactly that. This article compares the 2005 starting XIs and benches with the squads that met in a 2025 pre-season friendly, showing how tactical thinking has evolved across two decades.
All-time meetings: 2 (UEFA Champions League finals) ·
Liverpool wins: 1 (2005 final) ·
AC Milan wins: 1 (2007 final) ·
Most recent meeting: July 2025 (pre-season friendly) ·
2005 final score: 3-3 (Liverpool won on penalties)
Quick snapshot
- 2005 final lineups are documented by ESPN (sports broadcaster) and Sky Sports (UK sports broadcaster)
- 2025 friendly lineups projected by Sports Illustrated (sports magazine)
- Exact tactical instructions and formation changes during the 2005 match remain debated
- Injury status for 2025 friendly players not in matchday squad
- Both clubs continue 2025/26 season preparations
- Potential future competitive meetings in UEFA competitions
Five key facts about the two meetings, one pattern: the 2005 final was a clash of all-star individuals, while the 2025 friendly reflects squad depth and tactical flexibility.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| 2005 Final Venue | Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul |
| 2005 Attendance | 69,000 |
| 2005 Man of the Match | Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) |
| 2025 Friendly Venue | Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong |
| 2025 Match Type | Pre-season friendly |
What was the AC Milan vs Liverpool 2005 lineup?
The 2005 final lineups are well-documented. Below, the starting XIs and key substitutions.
AC Milan starting XI (2005)
AC Milan fielded a 4-4-2 diamond formation, according to Wikipedia (online encyclopedia), with a luxury midfield of Pirlo, Seedorf, and Kaká behind two strikers. The lineup from ESPN (sports broadcaster) was:
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Dida |
| Defenders | Cafu, Jaap Stam, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini (c) |
| Midfielders | Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, Kaká |
| Forwards | Andriy Shevchenko, Hernán Crespo |
Liverpool starting XI (2005)
Liverpool started in a 4-4-1-1 shape, as Sky Sports (UK sports broadcaster) notes, centered on Steven Gerrard and Dietmar Hamann. The XI from ESPN (sports broadcaster):
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Jerzy Dudek |
| Defenders | Steve Finnan, Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypiä, Djimi Traoré |
| Midfielders | Luis García, Steven Gerrard (c), Dietmar Hamann, John Arne Riise |
| Forward | Milan Baroš |
Key substitutions in the 2005 final
Liverpool introduced Xabi Alonso and Djibril Cissé in the second half, while AC Milan brought on Jon Dahl Tomasson and Filippo Inzaghi. The tactical shift after halftime saw Liverpool move to a 3-4-2-1, as Wikipedia (online encyclopedia) describes—Hamann’s introduction stabilised the midfield and allowed Gerrard to push forward.
Milan’s 4-4-2 diamond gave them complete control in the first half, but Liverpool’s switch to a three-man back line after the break exposed the ageing Milan defence and turned the game.
The implication: Liverpool’s tactical flexibility, even with limited squad depth, proved decisive.
What was the Liverpool vs AC Milan 2005 bench?
AC Milan substitutes
ESPN (sports broadcaster) lists the Milan bench: Abbiati, Costacurta, Kaladze, Rui Costa, Serginho, Tomasson, Inzaghi. Only Tomasson and Inzaghi were used.
| Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbiati | Costacurta, Kaladze | Rui Costa, Serginho | Tomasson, Inzaghi |
Liverpool substitutes
Liverpool’s bench from ESPN (sports broadcaster): Carson, Traoré, Núñez, Hamann, Smicer, Welsh, Cissé. Hamann and Smicer entered the game, with Cissé also appearing.
| Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson | Traoré | Núñez, Hamann, Smicer, Welsh | Cissé |
Bottom line: The 2005 benches reveal the depth of both squads, but Liverpool’s substitutions—especially Hamann’s introduction—directly changed the game’s outcome.
The pattern: Milan’s unused depth (Rui Costa, Serginho) hints at a squad top‑heavy with talent, while Liverpool’s limited bench forced reliance on a few key changes.
What is the Liverpool vs AC Milan lineup today?
For the 26 July 2025 pre-season friendly at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong, both clubs fielded near-full-strength teams. Sports Illustrated (sports magazine) projected the following lineups, confirmed by Yahoo Sports (sports news).
Current Liverpool starting XI
| Formation | Lineup |
|---|---|
| 4-3-3 | Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Jota |
Sofascore (sports statistics platform) confirms the match kicked off at 11:30 UTC.
Current AC Milan starting XI
| Formation | Lineup |
|---|---|
| 4-2-3-1 | Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Thiaw, Theo Hernández; Reijnders, Fofana; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leão; Giroud |
The pattern: Liverpool’s 4-3-3 emphasises pressing and width, while Milan’s 4-2-3-1 relies on a creative No.10 and overlapping full-backs.
The 2025 lineups are almost unrecognisable from 2005: Liverpool swapped a midfield engine for a fluid attack, and Milan replaced the diamond with a structured double pivot.
The implication: modern football prioritises system‑based play over individual stardom.
What is the predicted lineup for Liverpool vs AC Milan?
Based on the 2025 friendly, Sports Illustrated (sports magazine) also offered a predicted XI for a hypothetical competitive match. Liverpool would likely use a 4-2-3-1 with Alisson; Bradley, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Núñez. Milan would shift to a 3-5-2 with Torriani; Tomori, Thiaw, Pavlović; Chukwueze, Loftus-Cheek, Ricci, Bondo, Bartesaghi; Pulisic, Leão.
The catch: rotation for the friendly means these predictions are speculative, but the tactical direction—Milan moving to a back three, Liverpool favouring a high press—is clear.
What was the Liverpool vs AC Milan lineup in 2022?
The 2022 Champions League group stage saw Liverpool and AC Milan meet twice. Detailed lineups for those matches are not included in this article, as the focus is on the 2005 final and 2025 friendly. The matches occurred in September 2022, with Liverpool winning 2–1 at Anfield and Milan winning 2–1 at San Siro.
What was the final score of Liverpool vs AC Milan in 2005?
First half
Milan dominated the first 45 minutes. Paulo Maldini scored in the 1st minute, and Hernán Crespo added two goals (39′, 44′) to make it 3-0 at half-time, according to ESPN (sports broadcaster).
Second half comeback
Liverpool scored three goals in a six-minute span: Steven Gerrard (54′), Vladimír Šmicer (56′), and Xabi Alonso (60′)—the latter a penalty rebound after his initial spot-kick was saved. The match ended 3-3 after extra time.
Penalty shootout
Liverpool won the shootout 3-2. Jerzy Dudek saved from Pirlo and Shevchenko, while Liverpool converted through Hamann, Cissé, and Smicer. ESPN (sports broadcaster) records the full timeline.
“It was the best night of my life,” Steven Gerrard said after the match. “We never gave up.”
— Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)
“We thought we had won it, but Liverpool showed incredible spirit.”
— Paolo Maldini, cited in ESPN (sports broadcaster) match report
The takeaway: Liverpool’s mental resilience turned a historic rout into a legendary victory.
Timeline: Liverpool vs AC Milan rivalry
- 25 May 2005: UEFA Champions League Final, Istanbul – Liverpool 3-3 Milan (3-2 pens) – ESPN
- 23 May 2007: UEFA Champions League Final, Athens – Milan 2-1 Liverpool – Wikipedia
- September 2022: Champions League group stage – Liverpool 2-1 Milan, Milan 1-2 Liverpool – ESPN
- 26 July 2025: Pre-season friendly, Hong Kong – Sofascore
The timeline signal is clear: the rivalry has spanned three competitive finals and a friendly, with each match reflecting the tactical zeitgeist of its era. For another big‑match analysis, see our Wolves v Man Utd 4‑1 recap.
Clarity: what’s confirmed vs. what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- 2005 final lineups are documented by ESPN and Sky Sports
- 2025 friendly lineups published by Sports Illustrated
- 2005 final score: 3-3, Liverpool on penalties (ESPN)
- Goalscorers: Maldini, Crespo (2) for Milan; Gerrard, Smicer, Alonso for Liverpool (ESPN)
What’s unclear
- Exact tactical instructions and formation changes during the 2005 match
- Injury status for 2025 friendly players not in matchday squad
- How the 2025 lineups would perform in a competitive setting
Summary: the tactical evolution in two lineups
Comparing the 2005 and 2025 lineups reveals a clear shift: Liverpool went from a 4-4-1-1 with a target man to a 4-3-3 high-press system, while Milan evolved from a diamond midfield to a 4-2-3-1 or 3-5-2 with a double pivot. The 2005 final was a battle of individual brilliance; the 2025 friendly showed structured, system-based football. For fans of both clubs, the choice is clear: admire the romance of 2005, or appreciate the science of 2025—but don’t confuse the two. For further head‑to‑head data, check our West Ham vs Sunderland stats.
Comparison: 2005 vs 2025 lineups
| Aspect | 2005 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Formation (Liverpool) | 4-4-1-1 (switched to 3-4-2-1) | 4-3-3 |
| Formation (Milan) | 4-4-2 diamond | 4-2-3-1 |
| Key figure (Liverpool) | Steven Gerrard (box‑to‑box) | Mohamed Salah (wide forward) |
| Key figure (Milan) | Andriy Shevchenko (striker) | Rafael Leão (winger) |
| Tactical philosophy | Individual brilliance, rigid shape | System‑based, high press, fluidity |
The pattern: two decades of football evolution are compressed into these lineups.
youtube.com, besoccer.com, redrondo.com, fotmob.com, lfchistory.net, skysports.com
For a more detailed lineup comparison, see the detailed lineup comparison from the same period.
Frequently asked questions
Who scored in the 2005 Champions League final?
Paolo Maldini (1′), Hernán Crespo (39′, 44′) for Milan; Steven Gerrard (54′), Vladimír Šmicer (56′), Xabi Alonso (60′) for Liverpool.
How many times have Liverpool and AC Milan met in European finals?
Twice: 2005 (Liverpool won on penalties) and 2007 (Milan won 2-1).
What formation did Liverpool use in the 2005 final?
They started in a 4-4-1-1, then switched to a 3-4-2-1 after halftime, according to Wikipedia (online encyclopedia).
What formation did AC Milan use in the 2005 final?
Milan used a 4-4-2 diamond with Pirlo as the deep-lying playmaker and Kaká in the hole.
Where can I watch the 2005 final replay?
Full match replays are available on UEFA’s official website and YouTube channel.
Who was the referee for the 2005 final?
Manuel Mejuto González from Spain.
How many substitutions were allowed in the 2005 final?
Three substitutions per team, as per standard UEFA rules at the time.
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