In the opening round of Champions League games, AC Milan meet Liverpool in a box-office match-up in Italy.

Norway’s Espen Eskas will be the match referee for today’s heavyweight Champions League clash at the San Siro, where seven-time European champions AC Milan host six-time winners Liverpool.

Milan and Liverpool face off on the opening matchday of the Champions League’s new league phase, in which each team plays eight games - four at home, four away - against eight different sides. Find out more about the changes to Europe’s revamped elite club competition.

Who is Espen Eskas?

A referee in Norway’s top flight since 2015, Eskas is heading into his third season as a Champions League referee. Having made his tournament debut in RB Leipzig’s 3-1 group-stage win over Celtic in October 2022, the Norwegian was appointed to three games last season, including one knockout tie: Manchester City’s 3-1 victory over Copenhagen in the second leg of the last 16.

So far in his Champions League career, Eskas’s cards have largely remained in his pocket. He hasn’t sent a single player off in the four matches he has refereed, and has averaged 2.25 bookings per game.

The 36-year-old is yet to cross paths with either Milan or Liverpool in any competition.

Who are Eskas’ assistants for Milan vs Liverpool? Who is the VAR?

At the San Siro, Eskas will be assisted by countrymen Jan Erik Engan and Isaak Elias Bashevkin, and the fourth official will be Kristoffer Hagenes, also Norwegian. The video assistant referee (VAR) will be Germany’s Bastian Dankert, and the assistant VAR will be Dankert’s compatriot Christian Dingert.

AC Milan vs Liverpool: start time, how to watch

Milan and Liverpool’s Champions League matchday-one clash takes place today, Tuesday September 17, 2024, with kick-off in Italy scheduled for 3pm ET/12 noon PT. Viewers in the US will be able to watch the action on Paramount+ and ViX.