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Liverpool will travel to Italy for their crucial Champions League Round of 16 first leg fixture against Inter Milan on Wednesday night.
The Premier League giants won all six of their group stage fixtures to progress as Group B winners. Inter, on the other hand, finished second behind Real Madrid in Group D.
Both Inter and Liverpool are filled to the brim with high-quality players who are capable of producing match-winning performances on cue. At the San Siro, they will do their best to impress and help their respective teams get their noses in front in the first leg.
In anticipation of the upcoming Round of 16 clash between Liverpool and Inter, we will take a look at five duels that could impact the game’s outcome.
Here are five key battles that could sway the Champions League tie one way or the other on Wednesday night:
#5 Trent Alexander-Arnold vs Ivan Perisic
The battle between Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold and Inter left-midfielder Ivan Perisic is set to be an enticing one.
Alexander-Arnold, who has provided the most assists in the Premier League (10) this season, brings a neat blend of attack and defense to his game. He is quick, carries the ball well, is intelligent, and packs a mean right foot.
Against the Italian outfit, he will once again look to contribute to his team's attack.
To stop the Englishman from hitting his target, Inter will look up to their ever-dependable stalwart Perisic.
Operating down the left flank, the 33-year-old will have to aid the Nerazzurri going forward while also helping Inter nullify Alexander-Arnold’s threat.
#4 Thiago Alcantara vs Marcelo Brozovic
Inter Milan generally opt for a five-man midfield, meaning they have the option of flooding the middle if the need arises. However, unless something drastic happens, they are likely to leave Denzel Dumfries and Perisic out of their midfield business.
They could once again look up to the ever-dependable Marcelo Brozovic to lead the line against the Reds.
Although the 29-year-old Croatian is supremely talented, it is unlikely to be a walk in the park for him tonight, courtesy of Liverpool’s midfield maestro Thiago Alcantara.
The Spaniard, when fit, can go toe-to-toe against any midfield in the world and make a decisive impact. The central midfielder passes eloquently, possesses excellent vision, and is always full of bright ideas.
If Thiago is on song, the Merseysiders could become too hot to handle for Inter, and the onus will be on Brozovic to stop the Spaniard tonight.
#3 Sadio Mane vs Stefan de Vrij
Liverpool forward and AFCON winner Sadio Mane was rested in the Reds’ Premier League win over Leicester City last Friday.
The Senegalese returned to the fold in the 1-0 win at Burnley on Sunday, but was subbed off with 20 minutes left to play.
But against Inter Milan, Mane could play the entire 90 minutes, and we are backing him to come good.
Mane, who loves to cut inside from the left-hand channel, is likely to cross paths with Inter’s Stefan de Vrij, who operates centrally in defense. Like Mane, De Vrij is also an agile and intimidating athlete, which makes this tussle a rather unpredictable one.
If the Dutchman can read Mane’s movement, marshal the backline well, and keep him from making inroads, Liverpool could be in for a tricky encounter.
#2 Lautaro Martinez vs Virgil van Dijk
At the start of the season, Inter Milan lost Romelu Lukaku to Premier League giants Chelsea. His departure was destined to be tough for the San Siro outfit, as they did not have a like-for-like replacement for him.
Thankfully, even in Lukaku’s absence, Lautaro Martinez hasn’t lost his way and has been consistently producing the goods for his team.
The Argentine forward has scored 12 goals across all competitions, emerging as the team’s primary goal source.
Stopping Martinez in his tracks will not be a straightforward affair. Luckily for the Reds, they have one of the best in the business at their disposal. The great Virgil van Dijk has been rock solid for Jurgen Klopp this season and will have the responsibility of keeping Martinez in check tonight.
The Netherlands international is known for his pinpoint tackling, ability to intercept passes, and nullifying aerial threats. A mouth-watering battle awaits at the heart of the Merseysiders’ defense.
#1 Mohamed Salah vs Alessandro Bastoni
Last but not least, we have the ever-graceful Mohamed Salah going up against Inter’s industrious Alessandro Bastoni.
The Egypt international, who is set to make his 50th Champions League appearance for the Reds on Wednesday night, has been in imperious form this season.
He has scored 16 times and provided nine assists in the Premier League in the current campaign, emerging as the division’s top goalscorer and second-leading assist provider.
In the Champions League, too, he has looked excellent, netting seven times in six appearances.
Containing a player in such good form would not be easy for Alessandro Bastoni, but we believe he’s cut out for it. He rarely puts a foot wrong, is always calm in possession, and is known to produce crisp tackles when the situation demands.
The battle between the two superstars could have a significant bearing on the outcome tonight.
