Former Lazio, Juventus, and West Ham United striker Paolo Di Canio feels that Liverpool will be extremely formidable opponents for Inter, but are beatable.
Speaking to Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport in an interview published in today’s print edition, the former striker emphasized that the key to getting out of the tie for the Nerazzurri will be exploiting the Premier League side’s vulnerabilities.
The Reds have one of the most prolific attacks in European football and are currently sitting second in the Premier League table, whilst they finished with maximum points from a Champions League group containing AC Milan, Porto, and Atletico Madrid.
Getting Liverpool as opponents will be seen as one of the greatest challenges for the season by the Nerazzurri and they will know how difficult getting past the English side will be.
“Liverpool have clicked into gear and will not be distracted by the chase against City in the Premier League:,” Di Canio predicted, “the Reds are back to what they were two or three years ago. They are the worst opponent that Inter could’ve drawn.”
However, he also noted that in spite of their strength, there are weaknesses to this Liverpool side, specifying that “Van Dijk is not the same dominant player as he was in seasons past.”
“The Dutchman is often out of position, he moves late,” the former striker said. “Sometimes he even doesn’t quite make the run, complains to his teammates.”
“He remains an absolute leader, but he can sometimes get caught out, and Inter will have to do well to take advantage of the cracks that open up,” he emphasized.
Di Canio described the Reds as “A fairly flat team in defense, they hardly shift from side to side. The players stay wide and so there is room to play it in behind, and the right channel is the weak point.”
He elaborated that “Alexander-Arnold is less quick to react than Robertson, the left-back, and beside him as the central defender Matip, very strong if he sticks to his man, but not lightning-quick if he has to make up ground.”
He gave the view that “Perisic can be devastating here. Also, Dzeko – if the Bosnian drops deep, taking Van Dijk with him, space will open up in behind him.”
