BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Liverpool enters a defining Champions League night on Tuesday under an intense spotlight, arriving in Milan without star forward Mohamed Salah after a weekend in which the Egyptian publicly accused the club of “throwing me under the bus.” Manager Arne Slot’s decision to omit Salah from the squad for the trip to Inter Milan has fueled speculation about a widening rift, placing added pressure on a team already struggling for form.
Inter, meanwhile, sees a major opportunity. Liverpool’s inconsistent performances in recent weeks have strengthened the Italian side’s hopes of securing what would be a fifth win in six Champions League outings. Slot’s team sits 13th in the standings, and a victory at the San Siro would revive its chances of climbing into the top eight — a position that guarantees a seeded place in the knockout rounds.
The match headlines a crowded evening of European heavyweights in action, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Tottenham all taking the field across the continent. Yet the tension surrounding Liverpool overshadows the rest of the card, raising questions over squad unity and the direction of Slot’s tenure.
Barcelona is searching for stability after a bruising 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in its last Champions League appearance. The Catalan club hosts Eintracht Frankfurt in a game it is expected to win, but it must do so without defender Ronald Araujo. The Uruguayan is suspended following his red card against Chelsea and has also missed time for personal reasons. With Barcelona’s defensive line stretched, the pressure mounts on Xavi’s side to deliver a convincing performance.
Chelsea, sitting seventh in the standings and unbeaten in four Champions League matches, travels to Atalanta. A win in Italy would strengthen Chelsea’s grip on a top-eight finish and provide direct qualification to the round of 16. The London club has grown more consistent in Europe compared with its domestic form, and manager Enzo Maresca hopes to continue that trend against a disciplined Atalanta side.
Bayern Munich, in an early kickoff, aims to secure its fifth victory of the league stage when it hosts Sporting Lisbon. The German champions have been one of the competition’s most composed and efficient teams, and another win would further cement their position among the tournament favorites.
Tottenham, coming off a wild 5-3 loss to Paris Saint-Germain, faces a comparatively simpler assignment against Czech side Slavia Prague. But Spurs have been unpredictable all season, and manager Ange Postecoglou will expect a focused response after defensive lapses proved costly in Paris.
Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid visits PSV Eindhoven in a matchup between two tactical powerhouses, while Monaco hosts Galatasaray in a meeting of clubs pushing to secure their place in the next round. Belgium’s Union Saint-Gilloise, continuing one of the tournament’s most surprising campaigns, welcomes French side Marseille in what could prove a decisive game for both teams.
The earliest kickoff of the evening comes at 1530 GMT (10:30 a.m. ET), where Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty hosts Olympiacos of Greece. The unusual start time, dictated by local conditions, gives the match its own standalone window before the rest of the fixtures begin across Europe.
For now, though, much of the attention remains fixed on Milan — where Liverpool must prove it can compete without its most decisive player. A loss could deepen the turmoil surrounding Slot’s project, while a win would send a powerful message that the team can weather uncertainty and reclaim its place among the Champions League elite.
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