Inzaghi: Essential we score in first-half
Filippo Inzaghi believes his Inter side have to make a quick start tonight if they have any hope of staging a comeback.
“It will be a difficult game but we have great motivation,” Inzaghi said.
“It is important, I would say essential, to score a goal in the first-half, but we know that it will be a very difficult match.
“We prepared the game in three days, the lads are focused. We face the best team in Europe with Bayern Munich and Manchester City. It was great to play the first leg in Milan and we are aware that it will be even more difficult.”
Brentford, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Cardiff, Leicester, Burnley, Inter, Norwich, Leeds, Chelsea, Norwich, West Ham… Inter?
It’s been 12 wins in a row for Liverpool in all competitions, as they make a run on all fronts. They don’t need a win tonight to go through to the quarter-finals, but a victory is exactly what Klopp’s side will be targeting.
Klopp: We do not defend results
Jurgen Klopp is keen for his side to avoid any complacency as he insists this last-16 tie is far from over.
“Inter Milan don’t come here as tourists,” Klopp said.
“I know that they want to chase the game – that’s what we want to do because we are not a team who defends results.
“If you have half-time and you are 2-0 up and have a team that thinks ‘we are halfway through’ then you are already on the wrong path.
“It’s a much better result than I would’ve expected. The game didn’t look like we would win 2-0 and for most of the time it was a really tough tie and a really difficult game to play.”
Fabinho: Liverpool not thinking about quadruple
Fabinho insists Liverpool are not getting distracted by talk they could win the quadruple this season.
The Reds won the Carabao Cup last month, beating Chelsea in the final, and they are still in the Champions League and FA Cup. They are also just six points off leaders Manchester City in the Premier League with a game in hand.
Fabinho said: “When you play well, when you already win one trophy, I think it’s normal that everyone talks about ‘Liverpool can win four trophies’.
“I’m not thinking too much about this.
“We are thinking game by game, because it’s really hard to win two or three competitions, or even four. It’s really hard.”
Read Fabinho’s full comments in the build-up to this match right here
So it’s Jota who gets the nod over Diaz for Liverpool, in what looks a really strong side. Jones perhaps a slightly surprisingly inclusion, over the likes of Henderson and Keita. Thiago returns from injury and is straight back into the starting lineup.
For Inter, Perisic is fit to start on the left. Sanchez starts up front alongside Martinez, with Dzeko having to settle for a place on the bench. The visitors will be looking to bring on their big striker at some point in the second-half you’d imagine, hopefully for them with the tie in the balance.
Inter Milan lineup
Starting XI: Handanovic, Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni, Dumfries, Vidal, Brozovic, Calhanoglu, Perisic, Sanchez, Lautaro.
Subs: Cordaz, Radu, Gagliardini, Vecino, Dzeko, Ranocchia, Gosens, Correa, Dimarco, D’Ambrosio, Darmian, Caicedo
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