Three reasons why Lautaro Martinez is the Inter player to watch against Liverpool

Lautaro Martinez hasn’t scored in the last 10 Champions League games for Inter but will be the man to watch at Anfield tonight.

The Argentinean has had highs and lows this term but has still managed 15 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions. The 24-year-old hadn’t found the net in 2022 before last Friday’s Serie A tie against Salernitana, when he ended his goal drought by scoring a hat-trick.

Lautaro will be looking to end his European goal draught tonight as Inter face Liverpool at Anfield in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16. The Reds won in Milan 2-0 three weeks ago. El Toro didn’t put his name on the scoresheet in any of Inter’s group stage games this season and his last European goal dates back to November 2020, in a 3-2 loss against Real Madrid. Inter hope that his European curse ends on the English soil tonight.

Lautaro is expected to start alongside Edin Dzeko in the Inter attack and his qualities will be crucial to help Inter keep their qualification hopes alive. Simone Inzaghi has urged his players to score a goal in the first half to keep the tie open and while Dzeko will be Inter’s main point of reference up front, Lautaro can make the most of the spaces created by his attacking partner. Liverpool’s defence is not unbeatable. They conceded twice against Milan in a home group stage game earlier this season, with Brahim Diaz and Ante Rebic putting their names on the scoresheet just before the break. The Reds eventually won the game 3-2.

Lautaro’s confidence is high following his hat-trick against Salernitana over the weekend and he will have extra motivation tonight. It won’t be easy for him or Inter to find a gap in Liverpool’s defence, but if they do find some, they must make sure to be ruthless.