A series of facts ahead of the Inter MIlan vs Liverpool match

DBasia.news – Inter Milan will host Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 at the Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro), Thursday (17/02) at 03.00 WIB. The meeting of the two traditional teams in Europe is highly anticipated.

Moreover, both teams are also in good momentum in their respective leagues. Liverpool are in the race for the Premier League title against Manchester City. Even so Inter are trying to defend the Scudetto from the target of AC Milan and Napoli.

Former Liverpool and Inter coach, Rafael Benitez also gave his prediction ahead of the match. Benitez thinks the match will be tight and balanced with a duel between the two teams’ tactics.

“For the strength of the Premier League, I say Liverpool 51% and Inter 49%,” said Benitez as quoted by Football-Italy.

“It’s a more balanced game than a lot of people think. Inter did not qualify for the 16th round by chance. They always know what to do and are good at taking advantage of their opponents’ weaknesses.”

“Their 3-5-2 can create problems for a team that is not used to it. On the other hand, Liverpool played offensively and aggressively 4-3-3. They have intensity and I expect two interesting games.”

“The team that is able to maintain possession longer will win. Both have the technical ability to make opponents run.”

Liverpool have already faced city rivals Inter, AC Milan in the group stage and won twice. It will be interesting to watch how the chances of Jurgen Klopp’s team are now against Inter.

BolaSkor.com has summarized a number of interesting facts ahead of the match, along with the full review:

1.            A number of players have played together, namely: Edin Dzeko and Alisson (Roma 2016-2018), Alexis Sanchez and Thiago (Barcelona 2011-2013), Ivan Perisic and Thiago (Bayern Munich 2019-2020), Dzeko and James Milner (Manchester) City 2011-2015), Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal 2014-2017), and Andrea Ranocchia and Andy Robertson (Hull City 2017).

2.            The two teams have met in the last 16 of the 2007-2008 Champions League, Liverpool won 3-0 on aggregate.

3.            Mo Salah has played five times against Inter while defending Fiorentina and Roma, his record was winning three times and scored once.

4.            The trio of Dutch defenders. Two Dutch defenders Inter, Stefan de Vrij and Denzel Dumfries will meet his compatriot who defends Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk.

5.            Liverpool goalkeeper coach, Claudio Taffarel, is no stranger to Italy as he has defended Parma and Reggiana. And defended Brazil when they beat Italy in the 1994 World Cup.

6.            Inter have met English teams 11 times in the European knockout stages, their record is six wins and five defeats.