In the first leg of this season's Champions League quarter-finals, in addition to Paris at home vs Real Madrid, the match between Inter Milan and Liverpool is also quite attractive. One is the defending champion of the centenary giants Serie A, and the other is the glory of the recent Champions League summit, and the dialogue with each other is naturally very wonderful. For Inter, who play at home, the recent overall performance is difficult to say satisfactory, the personnel losses are many and it took many years to advance to the knockout rounds, the team's experience is indeed not much, this game can be described as a big test. The goal of The Liverpool squad to return to the line is not only limited to qualifying, they will not despise Inter as an opponent, they will definitely fight for victory.
Pre-match status: Inter put on the brakes and Liverpool are back together
Inter Milan has returned to the Champions League round of 16 after many seasons, coupled with the excellent performance and recovery of recent seasons, the external recognition is increasing day by day, and the manager Inzaghi Jr. has also received a lot of praise and appreciation. After surpassing AC Milan this season, they continued to sing and run forward, and the pace of continuing to compete for the title was very fierce. However, recently, the superposition of various factors has led to a surge in team fatigue, and the overall performance has also declined, and the standings have fallen to the top. Now the Nerazzurri are second in Serie A, but one less round. The last 3 games are 1 win, 1 loss and 1 draw (losing to Milan, drawing with Napoli), and the previous unbeaten play is not there, and the "devil's schedule" is really difficult.
The match against Liverpool is very important, but it is also quite involved in the team's energy. Although there are only two rounds of 90 minutes of competition, it still takes a lot of thought in terms of team preparation, deployment, adjustment and so on. Therefore, there are voices that Inter should moderately "give up" the Champions League match against Liverpool and concentrate on the league. For such an argument, coach Xiaoyin has always been very disagreeable. After all, when he first came to the team, he mentioned the goal of qualifying to the Champions League knockout stages, and the opposition at that time said the same thing. The temptation of the Champions League is indeed too great for clubs to just give up.
Liverpool, on the other hand, got rid of the difficult moment and returned to their own "complete mode". After the African Cup of Nations, the two heroes Salah and Mane gradually returned to the team, returning the team to its former appearance. However, even in the absence of the brothers, Liverpool did not have any signs of "dropping the chain" that everyone was worried about, and the team won 7 and drew 1 in the last 8 games, and the morale of the nearly 6 games was full. In the standings, they still followed Manchester City, and there was a big gap between them and the team behind them.
Unlike Inter, Klopp's team has a lot of combat experience, they have also won the Champions League recently (2018/19), when the team that won the title was still in place, without much adjustment. This is an excellent favorable factor for them. Last season, the team was plagued by injuries and basically belonged to the "semi-main" posture. This is also a helpless move, after all, it is difficult to make a start. After returning to consolidation this season, their goal must not be as simple as qualifying. Against the Inter team, they must work hard to qualify, and there is no other choice.
Clash records and personnel losses
Inter Milan and Liverpool, as the two most representative clubs in Europe, have very little record of playing against each other, only two games in the Champions League in the 2008/09 season, which is indeed somewhat unexpected. Liverpool won both matches, 1-0, 2-0 home-and-away doubles. Similarly, Klopp and Inzaghi Jr. did not fight each other, and this was the first time the two had come face to face directly. Before the game, Xiaoyin praised Klopp, saying that the latter was a goal for him to learn and emulate. This time with the "teacher Fu", he is also very excited.
However, Xiao Yin's situation is obviously much more difficult, and Barrera's suspension has led to great difficulties in inter midfielders. The Italian guy is an irreplaceable figure in inter midfield, and he can't play in both legs this time, which is indeed helpless. In addition, defensive magnate Bastoni also missed the game against Napoli due to a sprain, and it is unknown whether he will be able to resume playing in this campaign. This will also bring great restrictions to Inter's team system. In addition, new signing Gossens is not yet available, and Joaquin Correa's injury has forced Dzeko to play all the games.
In addition to the fact that Liverpool has been injured for a long time, Origi cannot play, it can basically guarantee full attendance. The difference is really too big, and their advantage in the team layout is too obvious.
Match highlight 1: Liverpool can focus on attacking Inter's weaknesses
The absence and injury of Barrera and Bastoni in this game will greatly reduce the integrity of the Nerazzurri system. Although football is a collective sport, they are too important and almost no one can replace them after their absence. Football is one game after the other, and this is the key point that Liverpool can take advantage of. The Klopp team, which has always been very good at detail adjustment and targeting the layout, will definitely "laugh and accept the gift", and Inter should be careful.
In midfield, Xiaoyin's 3-5-2 will send Brozovic, Char khanoglu and Barrera in the "iron triangle". After more than half a season of tempering, this brother has been particularly tacit understanding, and each of them has performed his own duties to ensure the rationality and efficiency of the operation of the team. Among them, Brozovic plays at the back and is mainly responsible for intercepting, covering and scoring; Char khanoglu is proficient in passing, mainly responsible for passing and organizing, as well as good peripheral shooting strength. As for Barrera, he is helping the team to transform attack and defense, his reckless running, excellent rear insertion awareness and ability, is a good helper for shooters.
According to statistics, nearly 70% of Inter's Serie A + European goals in the past two seasons are related to Barrera; nearly 55% of the goals are directly or indirectly involved. From this data, we can see how important the Italian midfield is. Inter's back-in play on the right side of the road after his absence almost disappeared, and Liverpool's centre-back not only "reduced the amount of tasks", but also had more energy to organize, and Van Dijk's big foot and the back-back retreat pass also had a place.
Barrera's super power is plugged in with a hot zone map
In addition, Inter's right wing-back, after Ashraf left, there is no stable candidate, the recent good Dutchman Dumfries, also counted as "Barrera's light", with his help has more space, to play the strengths and avoid the weaknesses. Barrera's absence from the right side of the organization is also likely to be abandoned, which is also "good" for Liverpool.
Liverpool are very strong in the wing
Bastoni's injury has left Inter in a potential crisis. The Italian guy is the first choice for a stable defender, and the steel defensive line he and Szcedfri have formed is also very reliable. After this fall, the team may have DiMarco or D'd'Ambrosio substitute, or send Ranocchio to adjust the lineup. However, compared to the tacit understanding of the brothers is indeed a big gap. Di Marco won the right to play the main center-back in the 3-2 Empoli and 1-1 draw with Napoli; unfortunately, his performance in the game can only be regarded as "decent", and the cooperation with his teammates is not as good as Bass's tacit understanding. If Bastoni makes a quick comeback, it's good news. However, the extent of his injury is still unknown.
If Barrera and Bastoni, the key left and right, are missing, Liverpool's left-right passing and pulling will play a big role, and Inter's front will be forced to move back and forth, and the problem will be exposed more and more. At this time, the Red Army's three strong offensive ability of the frontcourt will use cooperation and personal ability to find opportunities. This is something that the Nerazzurri does not want to see. On paper, Inter have struggled to find a good strategy to give a reasonable response.
Match Highlight 2: Pros and cons of Dzeko's drawdown organization
For the Nerazzurri, this season's dependence on veteran Dzeko is indeed too high, which is also a helpless move. The question of having to find a replacement for Lukaku (now Dzeko) was talked about a long time ago, but it has not been followed. Kecedo's joining is interpreted by the outside world as a coping strategy given by the team management, but it may take some time to play and play a practical role; now the veteran Dzeko still needs to work hard to support the team's attack group, especially with Liverpool.
The 3-5-2 style of play lacked enough forward thrust to be in Barrera's absence. For Inter, the two nominal goalscorers burst forward, and it takes a lot of back insertion to improve the fullness of the system and make the attack more three-dimensional. The resulting goals and assists are also many, and Dzeko will also be given the opportunity to rest. However, in the days when Barrera can't play, Dzeko must retreat more to solve the team's already dysfunctional offensive and defensive conversion problems and sort out the team's organization before and after. This is bound to involve more energy of the Bosnia and Herzegovina tower, to know that he is now physically damaged a lot, Inter has played too many games recently.
Dzeko's retraction of receiving balls and organizing is not low
After Dzeko pulled back, Inter's titular goalscorer in the front was only Lautaro Martinez. It should be known that although Lautaro is famous in the world football world, his good play is to "assist" his teammates, and the second boss is capable. In the absence of Dzeko's offensive strength and Liverpool's 1v1 hand-to-hand combat, whether his offensive ability can tear open Van Dijk's defense must be a question mark. In addition, Barrera will also have concerns before the Chalkhan sudden, and the scene of "left and right" is estimated not to be too common.
Inter scored the winning goal in an attacking interaction
Of course, Inter is not completely without opportunities, Dzeko's withdrawal organization is a high probability event, and the Nerazzurri have a good chance if they can improve their grasp of the quality of the shot. Just like the two legs of VS Real Madrid, Inter got the advantage but repeatedly wasted it; just like the vs Milan game, Inter had many chances to win the game but was killed by the opponent. "Wasted" opportunities will inevitably lead to defeat, against Liverpool, after getting the right to shoot, the players must try their best to grasp, any wasted opportunity may lead to defeat. After all, the opponent's attacking power is better than their own, and Liverpool have more chances of scoring.
Milan played a good role in this regard for the brothers in the city, and in the match against Liverpool, they seized the opportunity and forced the opponent into a very difficult situation at one point. In addition, the two sides should also be more active, and they must give more than the opponent's running and coverage, which is also a great requirement for physical fitness.
AC Milan quickly scored two goals
Match Highlight 3: Attitude towards high-pressure pressing
After the defensive system has gradually returned to the peak level this season, Liverpool has regained the former oppressive pressing strategy, putting pressure on opponents in the front of the game to gain opportunities. Of the 60 Premier League goals scored by the Reds this season, 50 per cent are directly linked to this factor. Their success rate of winning the ball in front of the field is also high in the first place in the tournament. Of the nearly 70 snatches per game, 62 percent came from the front. Forcing the opponent to look for opportunities after mistakes is the team's strategy to shoot and score points.
Liverpool get the ball after pressing, and will immediately launch an organizational attack, with three attackers to create a good scoring opportunity. Their speed and personal strength are also particularly comprehensive, so they will pose a huge threat to the opponent in terms of the integrity of the formation and the linkage of the rear defense. Inter must keep pace and pay attention to the rhythm of the opponent's assault after conceding the ball, such as the mistakes of Being countered by Milan after Chilean thigh Sanchez lost the ball, which must be avoided.
On the other hand, Inter's side is completely "not cold" in the high-pressure pressing, averaging 50+ times per game to regain the ball, which is ranked second to last in Serie A, nearly 20 times less than Liverpool. Inter milan is directly ranked first (32nd) in the Champions League ranking of this data, which can directly see the style of manager Xiaoyin. If Liverpool start their own crazy high-pressure pressing mode, can Inter guarantee no mistakes or reduce mistakes? If you can't put a high probability of being attacked into the front field encounter danger.
If Vidal/Gallardini start, Inter could line up 11
In addition, Liverpool and Inter have not done enough to be "aggressive" on the offensive end, inter and Liverpool are in the bottom of their respective leagues in terms of average violations per game, and they have fewer opportunities to take set-pieces than their opponents. The main reason comes from the team's dislike and good at passing, Inter milan average 6 passes per game ranked 18th in Serie A, liverpool averaged 8 passes per game ranked 15th in the Premier League. In this game, both sides should be more proactive, and if they can use their personal ability to create opportunities, they may have a windfall.
epilogue
Overall, Inter, who have not been in good shape recently, want to win Liverpool at home, it is indeed not very simple. There are also problems with their physical strength, and the tactical scheduling and adjustment of indistinguishable Inzaghi becomes more important. On the other hand, Liverpool, returning to the lineup, are strong and confident in Inter Milan Klopp. However, they still need to stay focused, and conceding a goal like against Milan could lead to a completely different ending. Underestimating the Nerazzurri also comes at a heavy price.
(Li Qian)