Champions League tonight – Villa and Liverpool in action

• Aston Villa playing in their first Champions League match since competition rebrand
• Villa travel to Switzerland to face European regulars Young Boys
• Villa have won three of their opening four Premier League games

Aston Villa have kicked off the season strongly, though defensive weaknesses have been evident in the early weeks. They’ve yet to keep a clean sheet, recently allowing goals from a struggling Leicester City and twice against bottom-placed Everton.

However, with Young Boys facing form issues and injury setbacks, Villa should be confident of securing a win as they return to European competition. After last season’s Europa Conference League run and a summer of squad improvements, they are well-equipped for this challenge. This match in Switzerland promises to be an exciting, potentially high-scoring encounter.

• Milan host Liverpool in Arne Slot’s first Champions League game as boss
• Reds suffered shock 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on home soil last weekend

Milan’s inconsistent start to the season was given a lift with a 4-0 victory over the weekend, but they remain a team in transition. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s 1-0 loss to Forest hints at some early struggles under Slot, making Tuesday’s clash difficult to predict.

That said, Liverpool’s overall quality and strong performances in the opening weeks make them the slight favourites. After Saturday’s setback, the Reds will be eager to secure any kind of win to kick off their Champions League campaign on the right foot.

Prediction: AC Milan 1-2 Liverpool