AC Milan coach Paulo Fonseca has not been fooled by Liverpool’s shock defeat to Nottingham Forest and insists his side will still have to be absolutely perfect if they are to win at San Siro.
Forest sprang a surprise on Saturday with their first victory at Anfield since 1969 against the distinctly off-colour Reds.
But Fonseca is aware that does not make their job any easier.
“Liverpool are a great team, one of the strongest in Europe with very strong positional play and with individuality that we all know,” he said.
“We have to be defensively perfect to win. We can’t make mistakes otherwise they score goals.
“We have to be a complete team to defend and then attack with stability. Tomorrow’s match is an opportunity to show our improvements.”
Striker Alvaro Morata, who joined in the summer for £11million, is relishing the prospect.
“Since I signed for this club, I’ve been imagining playing a match like this. This game could be a semi-final or a final,” he said.
“The desire to do well and make the fans proud is at its highest. Games like tomorrow’s are the ones that make history, and we can’t wait to play.
“The Champions League is the Champions League, it doesn’t matter how or when you get there, it’s where the best teams in Europe compete. We are very motivated.”