Inzaghi: Inter wanted to avoid Liverpool in Champions League knockout stages

Simone Inzaghi admits Liverpool were one of the teams that Inter were aiming to avoid in the Champions League knockout stages.

The Nerazzurri have been drawn to play the six-time European champions in the last 16 of the competition; hosting the Reds at San Siro on February 16 before the return leg at Anfield three weeks later.

Group B winners Liverpool were one of three sides to progress from the first phase with a 100 per cent record intact, along with Bayern Munich and Ajax.

Meanwhile, Inter finished as Group D runners-up behind Real Madrid, who inflicted home and away defeats on the reigning Serie A champions.

“Liverpool were among the teams to avoid, along with Manchester City and Bayern Munich,” Inzaghi said on Sky Sport Italia.

“But now we are in the last 16, and we will play it knowing that we meet a team that have won all six in the group and that won the Champions League two years ago.”

The two sides last met at this stage of the 2007-08 competitions, with the Reds prevailing 3-0 aggregate winners.

3 – Liverpool have won three of their four European Cup/Champions League meetings with Inter Milan (L1), most recently winning both legs in last 16 in the 2007-08 campaign. Titans. #UCLdraw

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 13, 2021