Match Details Inter v Livorno – 9th November 2013 – Kick Off 20:45 (CET) – Stadio Giuseppe Meazza a San Siro – Referee: S. Peruzzo

The story so far……

Inter: – After last weekends fantastic showing in Udine, Walter Mazzarri’s side will be confident of another victory on Saturday night. Inter head into this fixture as top scorers in Serie A and more importantly on the back of keeping their first clean sheet in 6 games. After four victories in their opening five contests, Inter will hope that a change of month will provide a change in fortunes. Mazzarri’s men are now unbeaten in four and come off the back of a week in which they claimed seven points from a possible nine. With another win the Nerazzurri can move just three points behind the Champions League places, all this ahead of Sunday when two of the current top three face each other in Turin.

Livorno: – Victory over Atalanta last time out was a huge relief for the newly promoted side from Western Tuscany. Winners of their first two Serie A contests of the season, the Amaranto then went seven games without a win before that 1-0 victory last time out. A closer look at Livorno’s results reveals a couple of interesting points, other than a 4-0 drubbing in Naples, Livorno have been fighting for a result in every game this season. Something that shouldn’t go unnoticed by those predicting a heavy defeat at the San Siro on Saturday. Four Inter players are currently on loan at the Tuscan side including Francesco Bardi (Italy’s U21 Goalkeeper) who has been in fine form so far this season.

Probable formations, Injuries and suspensions. (Courtesy of Whoscored.com)

The Key Men

Inter: Rodrigo Palacio – The man they call ‘Rodrigol’ leads Inter in both goals and assists after notching his seventh Serie A strike last Sunday in Udine. The Argentinian international has had little support from his fellow front men this term. Injuries to Mauro Icardi and Diego Milito plus the recent suspension of Ishak Belfodil has left Palacio as the sole survivor in an ever decreasing Nerazzurri frontline. Luckily for coach Walter Mazzarri Palacio has responded with a string of top notch performances. Once again all eyes will be on him at the Meazza on Saturday night.

Livorno: Emerson – The rock on which Livorno’s side is built. Not only an impressive defender but able to step into midfield when asked the Brazilian has been in top form this season. A goal and an assist shows that he is more than just a big lump at the back. Despite this, he averages over five clearances a game, 2.4 interceptions and is often the man who instigates the Tuscan sides offensive movements. Livorno will need their star man to be on top form when they arrive at the Meazza on Saturday night

Stat Attack – All the below stats were obtained from OPTA, the leading data provider for football statistics

Inter are unbeaten in their last 13 games against Livorno in Serie A (W11 D2).

Inter have kept eight clean sheets over their last 11 games against Livorno, including the last three.

Inter have won their last seven games against Livorno at the San Siro, conceding only two goals in the process.

The Nerazzurri have alternated between a draw and a win over the last four match-days, beating Udinese 3-0 on Sunday.

Inter kept their first clean sheet last Sunday, after conceding goals in their previous six fixtures.

Livorno got back to winning ways last Sunday against Atalanta, ending a seven-game winless run in Serie A.

After taking four points from their first two away games of the season, Livorno lost the next three on the road.

Inter have the best attack of this competition (27 goals).

Seven of Inter’s goals have come from a cross (a league-high).

Rodrigo Palacio has already scored seven goals in this campaign, but only two were at home.

Last Sunday Andrea Ranocchia was the first Italian player to score a goal for Inter this season in the league.

Innocent Emeghara scored his first Serie A goal against Inter in February, when he was at Siena.

Don’t forget to complete your prematch experience by listening to the ONLY 100% Inter podcast in English available. Listen to this weeks episode here