Amazon Prime have gained the rights to show Champions League football this season, and they are set to make an instant splash when the action gets underway tonight.
Their first match is a blockbuster showdown between AC Milan and Liverpool, two teams who have won 13 European Cups between them.
And they are set to pull out all the stops to impress with their coverage of Europe’s elite club competition.
It has been confirmed that the popular ‘substitute counter’ feature will be on display for the match at San Siro.
Amazon Prime have used this before when covering Premier League matches. It has proved a hit with fans, and is now set to be introduced for big European nights.
Amazon Prime introduced a ‘substitute counter’ (top left) for their Premier League coverage last season and will now use it in the Champions League as well
It will be used for the first time in the Champions League when AC Milan host Liverpool tonight
The feature, which appears in the top left corner of the screen above the scoreline, makes it easy for supporters to see how many more changes their manager can make in a game.
Fans called for it to be adopted by other broadcasters last season, as they heaped praise on Amazon Prime for bringing in the new feature.
One X user wrote: ‘New substitute tracking system on Amazon Prime is very useful actually and surprising that it hasn’t been introduced sooner. Amazon again showing to be superior to other platforms and surely must be the future of Premier League coverage’.
Another added: ‘I really like Amazon Prime’s line symbols to show how many substitutes both teams have got left, it’s the little things’.
The news that it is going to be on offer in the Champions League is likely to go down well with fans ahead of what promises to be a fascinating clash between two European giants.
Milan and Liverpool have been involved in some memorable encounters over the years – none more so than Liverpool’s ‘Miracle in Istanbul’ comeback in the 2005 final.
Milan gained revenge in the final two years later, and now the two teams meet again, hoping to get their European campaigns off to a winning start.
Gabby Logan will present tonight’s action, and will be joined by Frank Lampard, Clarence Seedorf, Daniel Sturridge and Josie Henning in the studio.
Alan Shearer will be alongside Jon Champion in the commentary box, with Gabriel Clarke and Alex Aljoe as pitch-side reporters and Mark Clattenburg on hand as a referee pundit.
