Inter Milan stalwart Lautaro Martinez will lead the line in the upcoming Champions League clash against Liverpool.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInter1908, El Toro’s duel against Virgil van Dijk could prove one of the key battles tonight.

Despite his relatively slow start to the season, Lautaro Martinez remains one of Europe’s most prolific strikers.

Indeed, the 28-year-old is Serie A’s joint-leading goalscorer, alongside AC Milan talisman Christian Pulisic.

Moreover, the Argentine center-forward has scored four goals in as many Champions League outings this term.

Inter Milan vs Liverpool – All Eyes on Lautaro vs Van Dijk Clash

Virgil Van Dijk
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 16: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool FC kicks the ball during the UEFA Champions League Round Of Sixteen Leg One match between FC Internazionale and Liverpool FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 16, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Lautaro fired a blank in Inter’s 2-1 defeat at Atletico Madrid last time out.

Overall, the Nerazzurri skipper has developed a nasty habit of vanishing in high-profile fixtures.

Indeed, he has failed to find the net against AC Milan, Juventus, Napoli, and Roma this season.

Perhaps facing a downtrodden Liverpool side could help him buck this unwanted trend this evening.

However, Lautaro will have to overcome Van Dijk, whom he has faced three times for club and country.

Despite his stunning goal at Anfield, Inter slumped to a 2-1 aggregate loss in the 2021/22 Round of 16.

Yet, El Toro got his revenge later that year, as Argentina squeezed past the Netherlands en route to World Cup glory in Qatar.