Inter v Liverpool Preview and Betting Tips
Inter v Liverpool Preview
Man Utd somehow escaped with a draw on Saturday in a match Southampton had more than enough chances to win. Now, the focus switches back to the Champions League and the tie of the game week is Inter v Liverpool. Both teams are second in their respective domestic divisions with the exact same games played and points earned. Can Inter stop the Reds? Or will Liverpool make it seven wins from seven in the Champions League this season? It should be an entertaining game, check out our preview below.
Inter
Inter Milan currently sit 2nd in Serie A with 54 points, just a point behind leaders Milan. They nicked a 1-1 draw at Napoli on Saturday in a match they could easily have lost. Simone Inzaghi’s side have been in good form since the turn of the year, losing just once (W4 D1 L1). However, their form in the Champions League has not been quite as convincing.
They qualified in 2nd with 10 points but their three wins came home and away vs Sheriff and at home vs Shakhtar. Inter lost both home and away against Real Madrid and they could only manage a 0-0 draw away at Shakhtar. They have relied heavily on Edin Dzeko (10 goals) and Lautaro Martinez (11 goals) in Serie A but in the Champions League, only the Bosnian has netted so far (3 goals) with Martinez failing to find the back of the net.
However, against Liverpool it should be Martinez who poses the biggest threat. This Inter side is not blessed with much pace and Martinez is best equipped to time his runs right and get in behind Liverpool’s high line. The likes of Dzeko, Perisic and Calhanoglu are technically gifted but speed is not their strong suit. In their 1-0 home defeat in the Group Stage to Real Madrid Inter missed four great chances to score. If they are to get anything from this game tonight, they’ll need to be much more clinical in front of goal.
Liverpool
Good luck predicting which version of Liverpool is going to turn up on Wednesday night. Yes, they keep winning matches but surely they can’t keep getting away with giving up as many clear cut chances as they have against the likes of Burnley and Crystal Palace. Klopp’s side remain extremely vulnerable to accurate balls in behind their ultra-high line. Only the brilliance of Alisson has saved their blushes on multiple occasions.
At the other end of the pitch The Reds have blown hot and cold. When they click they are awesome but this only seems to happen in 15 or 20 minute periods these days. Usually, they are able to get a goal or two during those spells and that has been enough to win them games. However, at times they have struggled to break down well organised teams that sit deep and that is surely how Inter will set up on Wednesday.
As ever, Trent Alexander Arnold will play a pivotal role in terms of creativity for Liverpool. Some of his setup play has been sensational and Jota will be ready to pounce on any inviting crosses he puts into the box. Fabinho is their rock in midfield and with Salah back and Luis Diaz added to the frontline, Liverpool will be fancying their chances of taking a lead back to Anfield for the second leg.
Inter v Liverpool Possible Lineups
Inter: Handanovic, Skriniar, De Vrij, Dimarco, Dumfries, Perisic, Calhanoglu, Brozovic, Vidal, Martinez, Dzeko.
Liverpool: Alisson, Arnold, Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson, Fabinho, Thiago, Jones, Jota, Salah, Diaz.
Inter v Liverpool Betting Tip
Liverpool are 2.14 favs on the machine to leave the San Siro with a win on Wednesday. The hosts are underdogs at 3.70 and the draw is 3.75. On paper, there is no doubting who the strongest team is here. Inter are going to be without the suspended Barella too which will weaken them further. The Reds won every one of their Champions League matches during this campaign but they only kept two clean sheets. Given their propensity for giving up big chances, Liverpool to win and both teams to score is the recommended bet at 3.95 on the exchange.
Another interesting angle for this match is in the to be shown a card market. Hakan Calhanoglu is likely to start in midfield for Inter and the Turkish playmaker has been shown a club high seven yellow cards in Serie A this season, with four coming in his last nine matches. He hasn’t been shown one yet in the Champions League but given how dangerous Liverpool are on the counter, he could be forced into making a cynical foul or two. He is 6.00 to be shown a card with William Hill and those odds are too big to turn down.
