Inter vs Liverpool

Matchday 6 of the UEFA Champions League delivers another marquee clash at San Siro as Inter [WWWWL] and Liverpool meet once more under the European spotlight. Inter return to San Siro with strong recent form against English visitors. They have won their last four home league phase matches against Premier League opposition, including a 1–0 win over Arsenal on Matchday 4 last season. They come into this fixture boasting an 18-match unbeaten home streak in the Champions League, with 15 wins and just three draws since 2022. Defensively, Inter have been formidable, registering 11 clean sheets in their last 14 league phase games and conceding only twice in their last 11 home group matches. Both sides arrive in Milan looking to respond after defeats in their previous outings, adding extra narrative to a rivalry built on iconic encounters and contrasting eras of success. The fixture carries a rich historical backdrop. Liverpool have won four of their six meetings with Inter, most recently in the 2021/22 round of 16 when a 2–0 win at San Siro, capped by a Mohamed Salah strike, set the tone for their progression. The clubs’ European story stretches further back, most memorably to the 1964/65 semi-final when Inter overturned a Liverpool first-leg lead with a 3–0 win on home soil en route to defending the European Cup. Bouncing back to winning ways in the Champions League remains the ultimate objective for Cristian Chivu’s side. A 3—5—2 formation with Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram in attack is expected against Arne Slot’s side.

Liverpool’s European pedigree is equally undeniable. This is their 17th Champions League campaign, and they have appeared in five finals, lifting the trophy in 2005 and 2019. They topped last season’s league phase but were eliminated in dramatic fashion by eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain on penalties. Although their 1–4 defeat at home to PSV on Matchday 5 halted a remarkable 16-game winning streak in European home league fixtures, Liverpool [WLWWL] have travelled well, winning seven of their last nine away matches and scoring in 11 of their previous 12 on the road. They also hold an impressive spell against Serie A clubs, with five wins in their last six league phase fixtures against Italian opposition and success in five of their last six away visits to Italy. Mohamed Salah’s presence offers an additional milestone watch, as he needs just two goals to become the first African player to reach 50 in the Champions League. A 4—2—3—1 set-up with Isak in attack may be seen.