Liverpool v Inter predictions: Reds should snuff out visitors' comeback hopes

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Liverpool v Inter in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 8pm Tuesday

Best bet

Liverpool to win to nil
1pt 15-8 Coral

Team news

Liverpool
Thiago Alcantara and Roberto Firmino may not be risked after injuries and Joel Matip is a doubt.

Inter
Midfielder Nicolo Barella returns after missing the first leg due to suspension and the Italy international should replace Arturo Vidal. Ivan Perisic missed the win over Salernitana and may only be fit enough for the bench.

Match preview

Liverpool scored with their only two shots on target in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Inter and punters can expect a similarly ruthless display from the Reds in the reverse fixture.

Goals from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah gave Jurgen Klopp's side a 2-0 first-leg lead at San Siro, where Inter hit the crossbar through Hakan Calhanoglu but failed to register a shot on target.

They warmed up for the trip to Anfield with a morale-boosting 5-0 Serie A win over Salernitana on Friday thanks to a Lautaro Martinez hat-trick and a brace from veteran strike partner Edin Dzeko.

However, before that rout of the bottom club in the Italian top flight, Inter had gone four matches without a goal and they have a mountain to climb if they are to get back into this tie.

They followed the home defeat to Liverpool with another 2-0 San Siro loss against Sassuolo before goalless draws against Genoa in the league and Milan in the Coppa Italia.

Klopp's Reds, meanwhile, have continued on their merry way, winning 11 of their last 12 matches in normal time with the exception being the penalty-shootout victory over Chelsea in the EFL Cup final.

Joel Matip is a fitness doubt but centre-back Ibrahima Konate has impressed alongside Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool have conceded just two goals in their last seven Premier League matches.

All seven of those ended in victories for the Reds, culminating in Saturday's hard-fought 1-0 home win over West Ham, and odds of almost 2-1 about another victory to nil against Inter are appealing.

Liverpool won all six of their Champions League group games, beating Atletico Madrid and Porto 2-0 in their last two at Anfield, and Inter's record against the top teams in Italy this season does not bode well for their chances of a spectacular comeback.

Simone Inzaghi's men have built their title defence on a rock-solid record against the weaker teams in Serie A but their three games against top-six clubs in 2022 ended in draws with Atalanta and Napoli and a 2-1 defeat to Milan.

They lost to nil at home and away against Real Madrid in the group stage, drew 0-0 away to Shakhtar Donetsk and, while Liverpool have gone from strength to strength since the turn of the year, Inter's form is on the wane.

Liverpool's January signing Luis Diaz has made a fine start to his Anfield career and Inzaghi's Inter must walk a tightrope between chasing the goals they need to qualify and preventing their rampant hosts from extending their advantage.

Arsenal famously pulled off a 2-0 heist to win the First Division at Anfield in 1989 but Inter look unlikely to repeat that feat against an in-form Liverpool side.

Key stat

Inter have failed to score in four of their last five matches in all competitions.

Inside info

Liverpool

Penalty taker Mohamed Salah
Free-kick wizard Trent Alexander-Arnold
Set-piece aerial threat Virgil van Dijk
Card magnet Fabinho

Inter

Penalty taker Lautaro Martinez
Free-kick wizard Hakan Calhanoglu
Set-piece aerial threat Edin Dzeko
Card magnet Hakan Calhanoglu

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