Following a shocking defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, Liverpool are gearing up to face AC Milan in an intriguing Champions League encounter. While there’s a full preview and predicted lineup for the match, let’s take a look at some of the players who have had the distinction of playing for both of these historic clubs.
9 Players to Play for Both Liverpool and AC Milan
1. Mario Balotelli
No prizes for guessing which fanbase got the better version of Mario Balotelli. His underwhelming spell at Liverpool during the 2014-15 season contributed to Brendan Rodgers’ eventual departure, as Balotelli struggled to find the net consistently.
In contrast, Balotelli thrived during his time at AC Milan, helping them with vital goals in the 18 months before the 2014 World Cup, including a decisive strike against Raheem Sterling’s England. After a less successful loan return to Milan in the 2015-16 season, he failed to make Italy’s squad for Euro 2016.
2. Fabio Borini
Borini was Brendan Rodgers’ first signing at Liverpool, but the Italian forward failed to secure a starting spot and later found more success at Sunderland. After the Black Cats’ relegation, Borini moved to AC Milan, initially on loan and later permanently.
At Milan, Borini had a unique stint, including an unusual spell as a right-back due to the Rossoneri’s injury crisis. While not a prolific forward, he became a useful utility player in his time at the San Siro.
3. Gabriel Paletta
Paletta’s brief spell at Liverpool is easy to forget, as he played fewer than a dozen games before returning to Argentina. However, his career in Europe took off later at Parma, where he earned a handful of caps for Italy before joining AC Milan during a tough period for the club. Paletta played a significant number of games during Vincenzo Montella’s sixth-place finish with Milan.
4. Alberto Aquilani
Aquilani was signed by Liverpool to fill the void left by Xabi Alonso’s departure, but his time at Anfield was marred by injuries. His loan to AC Milan during the 2011-12 season was part of his recovery journey, although it wasn’t enough to secure a permanent move. Despite this, Aquilani remained in the Italian national team setup during his time with Milan.
5. Pepe Reina
Reina is fondly remembered as one of Liverpool’s greats, leaving the club as one of the top five appearance-makers in the Premier League era. His time at AC Milan, however, was far more low-key. Reina mainly served as a backup goalkeeper during his two seasons with the Italian club and spent part of his Milan stint on loan at Aston Villa.
6. Suso
Suso was once tipped to be a rising star at Liverpool, but his path took a different turn after a loan move to Almeria. He joined AC Milan in 2015 and established himself as an important figure during the club’s rebuilding phase. Suso contributed to Milan’s recovery in Serie A before adding a Europa League trophy with Sevilla to his resume.
7. Fernando Torres
The Fernando Torres that graced Liverpool was an elite striker, beloved by the Anfield faithful. By the time Torres joined Milan in 2014, however, he was a shadow of the player he once was. His spell at Milan was short-lived, producing only one goal in Serie A before he returned to Atletico Madrid.
8. Christian Ziege
Ziege’s career took him to both Liverpool and AC Milan, making him the first player to represent both clubs. The German international joined Liverpool in 2000 after a short stint with Middlesbrough. His time at Anfield lasted just one season, with one notable league goal against Leeds United before moving to Tottenham.
9. Divock Origi
Divock Origi cemented his place as a Liverpool cult hero with unforgettable goals in the Champions League and Premier League. His strike in the 2019 Champions League final helped Liverpool secure their sixth European Cup. However, Origi struggled to break into the starting XI regularly, and in 2022, he made the switch to AC Milan.
Origi’s time in Milan has been less than stellar, and after only a handful of appearances, he has found himself out of favor. As Liverpool face AC Milan, the Belgian striker will not feature on the pitch, as he’s currently out of Milan’s senior squad and languishing in their reserves.
