Liverpool arrive at the San Siro in the grip of a deepening crisis, needing a major performance to revive their hopes of finishing inside the top eight of the UEFA Champions League league phase. Arne Slot’s side make the trip to Italy after another chaotic domestic outing and an even more chaotic aftermath, with the pressure on the Liverpool manager now reaching its highest level since his arrival at Anfield.
Inter Milan, meanwhile, are in far steadier form. Their perfect start to the Champions League group phase came to an abrupt halt on matchday five when Atlético Madrid snatched a 93rd-minute winner to seal a 2-1 victory. Still, Cristian Chivu’s squad have responded with the ruthlessness of a team determined to stay among Europe’s elite. Across their last three domestic fixtures, Inter have found the net 11 times, including a dominant four-goal display in their victory over Como at the weekend. With the Nerazzurri still inside the top four of the league phase and unbeaten in their last eighteen Champions League home games, winning fifteen and drawing three, they enter this clash with considerable momentum.
Their record against English opposition will further strengthen their confidence. Inter have won four of their last five group or league phase encounters with Premier League sides, a sign that they relish these high-profile matchups. That history, combined with the intimidating atmosphere of the San Siro, makes this one of Liverpool’s most daunting European assignments in recent years.
Liverpool’s preparations could hardly be more turbulent. Their 3-3 draw with Leeds United on Saturday saw them take the lead twice yet still fail to win, exposing once again a team struggling to control matches and defend effectively. But the real shock followed the match when Mohamed Salah, unused on the night, delivered a remarkable public criticism of the club and his manager. Claiming he had been “thrown under the bus” by Slot, Salah’s comments have dominated British media and overshadowed any tactical analysis from the weekend.
For Slot, a trip to Milan now comes with layers of difficulty. He must manage a dressing room shaken by one of its leaders publicly challenging his authority while attempting to engineer an immediate response to the 4-1 demolition Liverpool suffered against PSV Eindhoven on matchday five. Despite their slump, Liverpool’s European away record does offer a glimmer of hope. They have won seven of their last nine away games in continental competitions, losing only twice, and they have scored in eleven of their previous twelve European matches on the road.
The history between these two storied clubs also leans slightly toward the visitors. Liverpool have won four of their six meetings with Inter, losing twice, although only one of those matches saw both teams score. Recent statistical trends add further intrigue. Just two of Inter’s last fourteen league phase matches in the Champions League have produced goals from both sides, while nine of their last eleven home fixtures have featured over two and a half goals. Liverpool, remarkably, have not drawn any of their last 31 UEFA group or league phase games, a run that suggests drama is almost guaranteed.
The battle of the forwards will also shape the night. Lautaro Martínez has been sensational at the San Siro in 2025, scoring in all five of Inter’s home matches in this Champions League campaign and striking eight goals in the process. He also has a habit of breaking matches open early, netting the opener in four of those games. Liverpool will look to Hugo Ekitiké for inspiration, with the forward scoring his last three goals for the club away from home, including the opener against Frankfurt in the UCL and another early strike at Leeds.
Both sides appear to have come through their weekend fixtures without new injuries, meaning Chivu and Slot will have their full squads available for what promises to be a decisive contest. Inter are strong, settled and confident. Liverpool are wounded, unstable and increasingly desperate for a turning point.
Whether the cauldron of the San Siro will break them further or reignite their season remains to be seen. One thing is certain: a Liverpool team already surrounded by uncertainty cannot afford another damaging night in Europe.
