Liverpool face AC Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday night (Image: Getty)
A Liverpool supporter has died in Italy ahead of the Reds’ Champions League match against AC Milan.
The Premier League club are set to face Milan tonight and supporters have travelled in their thousands to the Italy for the clash.
However, tragedy has struck as one fan passed away after being struck by a car ahead of the match.
Merseyside police have confirmed that 51-year-old Philip Joseph Dooley passed away following the incident.
He was hit whilst trying to cross the A4 motorway near the Orio al Serio Airport in Bergamo after travelling over for the match.
Mr Dooley had landed at the Bergamo airport a matter of hours before the incident after flying in from Manchester. He was found with his passport in his pocket as well as a ticket for the match.
The male is said to have been crossing the road with another two supporters, a father and son, but they were unharmed.
The two individuals who witnessed the accident are now assisting Italian police with their investigation, Merseyside police have confirmed.
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The incident occurred on the A4 motorway in Brescia (Image: Getty)
The reason for the male crossing the road is unclear at this stage, though the NH Hotel directly across the A4 has prompted speculation that he may have been planning to stay the night there before travelling to the San Siro.
Police are also investigating whether the supporter was in an ‘altered psychophysical state’ which may have influenced his decision to cross the busy road.
The heartbreaking news comes under 24 hours before Liverpool look to kick off their Champions League campaign in style under Arne Slot.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool were beaten by Forest over the weekend (Image: Getty)
The Reds have faced AC Milan on five occasions in the history of the competition, most famously when they came from behind to beat the Italians on penalties in the final of the competition in Istanbul in 2005.
Liverpool will be keen to bounce back to winning ways against the European giants following their defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest over the weekend.
A goal from Callum Hudson-Odoi ensured that Slot tasted defeat for the first time as Reds boss despite his team having much of the possession.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1949706/Liverpool-news-fan-died-AC-Milan-Champions-League