Inter v Liverpool: 10 things to know

MILAN - Inter are set to lock horns with Liverpool in European competition for the fifth time on Wednesday. The Champions League round-of-16 first-leg fixture kicks off at San Siro at 21:00 CET, with the return leg at Anfield scheduled for 8 March. Their last match-up was 14 years ago, at the same stage of the competition.

Ahead of the game, here are 10 facts involving the Nerazzurri and the Reds.

1. PREVIOUS MATCH-UPS, FACCHETTI'S STUNNER

Inter and Liverpool have previously met twice in two-legged ties in the European Cup/Champions League. 

The first time was the Nerazzurri's legendary semi-final comeback in 1965 en route to a second consecutive European Cup triumph. The Reds won the first leg 3-1 at Anfield but Inter turned the tie around with a 3-0 victory on home soil. One of Inter's most memorable European nights began with Mario Corso's long-range strike. Two minutes later, Joaquin Peiro famously stole the ball off the keeper to make it 2-0, then in the second half Giacinto Facchetti hit what proved to be the winner with a cracking strike.

The 2007/08 meeting at Anfield was a real battle. Marco Materazzi was sent off after half an hour following a harsh second yellow and Ivan Cordoba suffered a serious knee injury before Dirk Kuyt (86) and Steven Gerrard (90) grabbed two late goals. In the return leg another red card, for Nicolas Burdisso, and a host of chances for Inter preceded Fernando Torres's winner for the visitors.

2. CLASH OF WINNERS

Inter v Liverpool is one of two last-16 match-ups this season that sees former European Cup/Champions League winners face off, the other being Benfica v Ajax. The Reds have won the competition six times and Inter three.

3. LIVERPOOL BACK IN MILAN

Jurgen Klopp's side are returning to the San Siro just two months after their last visit, having been pitted with AC Milan in Group B. The Reds defeated the Rossoneri 2-1 in their final group game on 7 December courtesy of second-half goals by Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi.

Liverpool have faced Italian clubs seven times in knockout ties, advancing to the next round on five occasions and losing out twice.

4. INTER AND ENGLISH CLUBS

The last time the Nerazzurri faced English opponents was in the last 16 of the 2012/13 UEFA Europa League. Tottenham won the first leg 3-0 at White Hart Lane while Inter triumphed 4-1 in Milan after extra time and were eliminated on away goals. 

Of 11 meetings with English sides in European knockout rounds, the Nerazzurri have won six and lost five.

5. NERAZZURRI GOALS AGAINST LIVERPOOL

Three current Inter players have scored against Liverpool before in their careers. 

Alexis Sanchez came up against them nine times in the Premier League in an Arsenal shirt and found the net twice.

Edin Dzeko meanwhile has faced Liverpool with both Manchester City and Roma: 11 games in total, with three goals – two of which for the Giallorossi in the 2017/18 Champions League semi-finals.

Robin Gosens struck the second of Atalanta's two goals in a memorable 2-0 victory at Anfield in the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League group stage.

6. FORMER TEAM-MATES

Several Inter and Liverpool players will find themselves on the opposite side to a former team-mate.

Dzeko spent two seasons with Alisson at Roma between 2016 at 2018 and four years with James Milner at Manchester City (2011-2015). 

Thiago Alcantara was a team-mate of Alexis Sanchez's at Barcelona (2011–13) and Ivan Perisic's at Bayern Munich (2019/20). 

Sanchez was also in the same Arsenal side as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from 2014 to 2017. 

Andrea Ranocchia shared a dressing room with Andrew Robertson at Hull City in 2017.

7. SALAH AND MANE BACK TOGETHER AFTER AFCON FINAL

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are back on the same team again after appearing on opposite teams in the Africa Cup of Nations final. Mane scored the winning penalty as Senegal overcame Egypt in a shootout. 

Salah played against Inter five times in Italy while at Fiorentina and Roma, winning three and scoring the only goal in Fiorentina's 1-0 victory at San Siro in 2014/15.

8. DUTCH DEFENDERS FACE OFF

Inter v Liverpool will see Stefan de Vrij and Denzel Dumfries do battle with fellow Netherlands defender Virgil Van Dijk.

9. PLAYED FOR BOTH

Six players have plied their trade for both Inter and Liverpool. 

Paul Ince, the Guv'nor, joined the Reds in 1997 after a two-year spell in Milan.

Robbie Keane spent half a season at Inter in 2000 and later moved to Liverpool in 2008/09. 

Mario Balotelli won the treble with the Nerazzurri and played for the Reds in the 2014/15 season.

A young Philippe Coutinho swapped the north of Italy for the north of England in 2013, going on to spend five seasons at Anfield.

Xherdan Shaqiri wore a Nerazzurri shirt for six months in 2015 and a Reds jersey from 2018 to 2021.

Goalkeeper Daniele Padelli played for Liverpool between January and June 2007, registering one Premier League appearance in that time. The shotstopper played for Inter for four seasons between 2017 and 2021, racking up nine Serie A appearances and featuring in the Scudetto-winning squad.

Victor Moses featured on loan for Liverpool in 2013/14 and then spent time at Inter in 2020.

As for coaches, both Roy Hodgson and Rafa Benitez have managed Inter and Liverpool. Hodgson was in charge of Inter from 1995 until 1997 as well as a short spell in 1999, and then took the reins at Liverpool for the 2010/11 season. Benitez enjoyed six great campaigns at the helm of Liverpool between 2004 and 2010 before a brief stint as Inter coach, winning the Italian Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

10. LIVERPOOL GOALKEEPER COACH'S ITALY PAST

Liverpool's goalkeeping coach Claudio Taffarel is familiar with Italy, having played for Parma (1990–93, 2001–03) and Reggiana (1993/94), and beaten Italy in the 1994 World Cup final with Brazil.