The UEFA Champions League league phase heats up on December 9, 2025, as Inter Milan welcomes Liverpool to the iconic San Siro in Milan. This high-stakes matchup pits the Nerazzurri’s formidable home form against a Reds side grappling with internal turmoil and inconsistent results. With both teams vying for top-eight spots to secure direct knockout qualification, expect a tactical battle under the lights.
Inter Milan’s Form
Inter Milan enter this fixture on a three-match winning streak across all competitions, including a dominant 4-0 Serie A thrashing of Como on December 6. Goals from Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Carlos Augusto showcased their ruthless efficiency, with the side boasting Serie A’s best non-penalty expected goals (xG) at 12.8 in the Champions League.
Last season’s finalists have been unbeaten in 18 home European games (W15 D3), the longest active streak in the competition. Their only league-phase slip was a 2-1 injury-time loss at Atletico Madrid, but they’ve since aggregated 11-1 in victories over Bologna, Hellas Verona, and Como. At the San Siro, Inter have won six of eight Serie A home games, conceding just five goals.
Key to their success is a balanced 3-5-2 system under manager Cristian Chivu, blending midfield control with lethal counter-attacks. Inter lead the UCL in chance creation, averaging 2.4 goals scored per game while conceding only 0.6.
Liverpool’s Form
Contrastingly, Liverpool are in freefall. The Reds blew a 2-0 lead to draw 3-3 at Leeds United on December 6, marking just one win in their last six across all competitions. Defensively porous—they’ve conceded 3+ goals in six of their last 10 outings—Liverpool have equalled a 96-year-old unwanted record with three home defeats by three or more goals this season.
Off-field drama amplifies the woes: Mohamed Salah’s explosive post-match rant accused the club of scapegoating him and revealed a broken relationship with Slot, leading to his exclusion from the traveling squad. This marks Salah’s third straight benching, with the 33-year-old hinting at a January exit. Injuries to Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring), Giovanni Leoni (knee), and doubts over Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa compound the issues.
Predicted Lineups
Inter Milan (3-5-2): Sommer; Akanji, Bisseck, Bastoni; Carlos Augusto, Zielinski, Calhanoglu, Barella, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Bradley, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Wirtz, Ekitike, Gakpo
Score Prediction
Our prediction: Inter Milan 2-1 Liverpool. The Nerazzurri’s momentum and Martinez’s scoring streak (100% hit rate in UCL homes) should prevail, but Liverpool’s quality—led by Ekitike’s form—ensures they grab a consolation. A 2-1 scoreline aligns with H2H trends and Inter’s recent 2.4 goals-per-game average.
