Chris Sutton has warned Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson to always be alert to Inter Milan’s full-backs during Liverpool’s Champions League tie in his Daily Mail column.
The Reds visit the San Siro for their last 16 first-leg tie on Wednesday seeking to secure an early advantage. They have not faced the Nerazzurri in any competitive competition since winning 1-0 away to the Serie A side in March 2008 via a second-half Fernando Torres goal.
Mohamed Salah is the Anfield natives’ top goalscorer in the UEFA competition so far this season. The Egyptian scored seven goals across six group stage games, five more than next-best pair Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. Five players have also hit home one goal.
But Sutton expects Alexander-Arnold and Robertson will be just as key to Liverpool beating Inter Milan in the Champions League. The former Celtic striker expects they will have their work cut out containing their Nerazzurri counterparts in a crucial matchup.
“Whether Inter are successful will largely depend on how their wing-backs play and what we usually see is them going from box to box relentlessly,” Sutton wrote.
“It is going to be interesting to see how Alexander-Arnold and Robertson handle that. They will have to be switched on throughout, always aware of their opponents.”
Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold, Robertson will be busy against Inter Milan
Simone Inzaghi has utilised a 3-5-2 formation in all 33 of Inter Milan’s fixtures since joining the Nerazzurri last summer. Denzel Dumfries has also started 16 of his 29 games across all competitions as their right-wing-back. He has offered three goals and five assists, too.
Ivan Perisic, meanwhile, has started 27 of his 31 outings on the left-flank for four goals and three assists. The Croatian also scored after starting centrally against Lazio back in October.
Jurgen Klopp will need Robertson and Alexander-Arnold to respectively keep Dumfries and Perisic in check when Liverpool visit Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday. But the Reds must also work to contain Edin Dzeko and Hakan Calhanoglu at the San Siro.
Calhanoglu has provided nine assists in all competitions since joining Inter from AC Milan last summer. Only Nicolo Barella (8), who is suspended against Liverpool, has also offered more assists than Dzeko (7). The former Manchester City striker also has 14 goals so far.
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