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Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram has warned his teammates to brace for a reaction from Liverpool, insisting that matches in the Champions League often bring out the best in struggling teams.
The Italian side host the English giants at the San Siro on Tuesday, with Liverpool arriving in Milan amid a turbulent period both on and off the pitch.
The Reds are ninth in the Premier League and have managed just four wins in their last 15 matches in all competitions.
Tensions within the squad were further exposed after forward Mohamed Salah publicly criticised manager Arne Slot, complaining of being marginalised following Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds.
Salah, who has scored 48 Champions League goals in his career, has been left out of the travelling squad for the trip to Italy. However, Thuram believes his absence does not make the task facing Inter any easier.
“When a top player is under pressure, he will always want to prove who he really is,” Thuram said at Monday’s press conference. “People might think now is the right time to play Liverpool, but maybe it isn’t.”
He added, “We’re playing against a big team with top-quality players. All we can do is continue performing the way we have been and try to raise our level again.”
Thuram noted that Inter have consistently delivered on the European stage in recent seasons, even if this campaign has seen mixed results in major matches.
“Since I’ve been here, we’ve won plenty of big games in the Champions League,” the France international said. “In a match like this, anything can happen. But, indeed, we haven’t always had what it takes in the very biggest games this season.”
Inter are currently fourth in their Champions League group with 12 points but suffered a setback in their previous outing, losing 2-1 away to Atletico Madrid — their toughest European test so far this season.
Last season was a painful one for the Italian club in Europe, as they were thrashed 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
Domestically, Inter sit second in Serie A, just one point adrift of leaders Napoli, but their title challenge has already been dented by four league defeats. Three of those losses have come against rivals Juventus, Napoli and AC Milan.
With both clubs looking to steady their European ambitions, Tuesday’s clash promises to be a testing night for sides under pressure in different ways.
