Inter, who lost last season's Champions League final, have remained strong despite a managerial change in the summer. Simone Inzaghi departed for Al-Hilal, and Cristian Chivu has taken charge, with the Italian giants staying firmly in the title race. Going into this fixture, Inter have sat one point off the top of Serie A and have looked sharp in Europe.

They warmed up for the visit of Liverpool with an emphatic 4-0 win over Cesc Fabregas' Como at the weekend and have won four of their five Champions League matches this season.

If Liverpool were to win in Milan, they would become only the second visiting club to win three times away to Inter in the Champions League, matching Bayern Munich. Their previous Champions League wins at the San Siro against Inter came in 2002 and 2008, while they have also beaten AC Milan there in 2021 and 2024.

Liverpool's strong recent record in Italy

Liverpool have faced Italian opposition in each of the last nine European seasons. Last season, they opened their league phase campaign against Italian clubs by coming from behind to beat AC Milan 3-1 at the San Siro before defeating Bologna 2-0 at Anfield.

Home and away, Liverpool have played Italian teams 43 times in European competition. They have won 21 matches and lost 18, and have won five of their last six away games in Italy.

They have scored 14 goals across their last six visits to Italy, having managed just six in the previous 13 matches there.

A notable statistic is that none of Liverpool's last 31 group or league phase UEFA matches have finished in a draw, a run that has stretched back to a 1-1 draw away to Midtjylland in December 2020. Liverpool have also never conceded four or more goals in back-to-back European matches.

Inter's European pedigree and English clashes

Inter remain the only club to have never been relegated from the top flight of Italian football. They have won the European Cup three times, lifting the trophy in 1964, 1965 and again in 2010 under Jose Mourinho.

Last season, they faced two English clubs in the Champions League league phase, drawing 0-0 away to Manchester City and winning 1-0 at home against Arsenal.

At the San Siro, Inter have lost to English sides only four times in European competition – against Birmingham City in the 1960/61 Fairs Cup, Arsenal in the 2003/04 Champions League and Liverpool, who remain the only English club to have beaten them twice in Milan.

Liverpool now have a rare chance to make history on Italian soil once again.

Steve Barker in awe of current Stellenbosch squad