Salah Out, Iketiki and Isak Steer Liverpool in Inter Showdown
9 December 2025
Match Preview
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot revealed his starting XI for the Champions League trip to Inter at Giuseppe Meazza in the sixth group-stage game.
The Reds will be without Mohamed Salah, who was left out after criticizing the manager and the club for marginalization in recent matches.
Slot elected to leave German midfielder Florian Wirtz on the bench, while deploying Hugo Iketiki and Alexander Isak to spearhead the attack.
In defense, English defender Joe Gomez starts on the right with Conor Bradley among the substitutes.
Starting XI includes: Alisson Becker in goal; the back four Gomez, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; the midfield trio Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones; the front three Szoboszlai, Isak, Iketiki.
Inter’s Lineup
Inter coach Cristian Kivo relies on Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram in attack.
Goalkeeper: Yann Sommer.
Defense: Akanji, Acerbi, Bastoni.
Midfield: Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco.
Attack: Thuram, Martinez.
Inter enter the match with 12 points, sitting fourth in the table, while Liverpool sit 13th with 9 points.
Venue: Giuseppe Meazza, Milan. Kick-off at 21:00 local time on 9 December 2025.
Punchline 1: The defense is so tight that even the ball needs permission to cross the line. Punchline 2: If football had a calculator, tonight’s score might still require a miracle and a map to Milan.
