Inter v Liverpool predictions: Ruthless Reds set for more San Siro success

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for the Champions League last-16 first leg between Inter and Liverpool on Wednesday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Liverpool
2pts 11-10 Hills

Team news

Inter
Joaquin Correa, Robin Gosens and Matias Vecino are injured while Nicolo Barella is suspended. Alessandro Bastoni faces a late fitness test while Aleksandar Kolarov has been left out of the 25-man squad.

Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp has no fresh injury concerns with Divock Origi and Joe Gomez the only two expected absentees.

Match preview

Liverpool’s perfect record in this season’s Champions League group stage featured a pair of victories over Serie A leaders Milan and the relentless Reds can enjoy another successful raid on the San Siro in the first leg of their last-16 tie with Inter.

Alongside Ajax and Bayern Munich, Jurgen Klopp’s men were one of three teams to advance to the knockout phase with maximum points, adding home and away wins against Atletico Madrid and Porto to the double over Milan.

As groups go, that was about as competitive as it gets but Liverpool were unfazed by the challenge, racking up 17 goals to illustrate their dominance.

Their two triumphs over Milan, who defeated Inter 2-1 in this month’s Derby della Madonnina and currently hold a one-point advantage over their fierce rivals at the Serie A summit, carry particular substance.

Liverpool mastered the Rossoneri 3-2 at Anfield on Matchday One before a come-from-behind 2-1 success at the San Siro, although there are reasons for thinking the gulf in class was much greater than the slender margins of victory suggest.

Over the course of those two fixtures, Klopp’s side won the shot count 45-15 and forced 24 corners to Milan’s five.

Inter may possess more match winners than their city rivals, with Argentinian ace Lautaro Martinez an obvious danger, but containing Liverpool's forward line is a much more daunting task for the hosts.

Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane have already combined to score 50 goals in all competitions this season and Klopp now has healthy backup options with Roberto Firmino and former Porto man Luis Diaz fighting for places.

Simone Inzaghi’s Inter boast the second-best defensive record in Italy, but they have conceded in four of their last five league games and were breached in four of their six group-stage assignments, including on two occasions against Moldovan minnows Sheriff Tiraspol.

And while they are the reigning Italian champions, their big-game mentality this season must also come under some scrutiny.

The Nerazzurri lost both meetings to nil with Group D winners Real Madrid and, despite sitting second in Serie A, have won only two of their nine league fixtures against top-six rivals this term.

Italy’s Euro 2020-winning midfielder Nicolo Barella is suspended too, leaving a huge hole to fill in the centre of the park, particularly with the inconsistent Hakan Calhanoglu a difficult man to trust.

With Manchester United also taking four points from Atalanta in their Champions League group-stage campaign and Chelsea running out emphatic 4-0 winners in their home meeting with Juventus, there are plenty of reasons to believe that the gap between the Premier League and Serie A remains a big one.

Klopp has a fully-fit squad to choose from and, at odds-against, they look a worthy wager to maintain their 100 per cent record in this season’s competition.

Key stat

Liverpool have scored ten goals in three Champions League away games this term.

Inside info

Inter

Penalty taker Lautaro Martinez
Free-kick wizard Hakan Calhanoglu
Set-piece aerial threat Edin Dzeko
Card magnet Hakan Calhanoglu

Liverpool

Penalty taker Mohamed Salah
Free-kick wizard Trent Alexander-Arnold
Set-piece aerial threat Virgil van Dijk
Card magnet Andrew Robertson

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