Liverpool and Inter Milan, second in their respective divisions, go head to head this evening in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 ties.
With both sides in great form, it promises to be a fascinating encounter, with the winners of this tie likely to go far in the competition.
And, ahead of the tie, the team news sprung a few surprises, especially on the Liverpool end.
The Reds made 4 changes from their side that squeaked past Burnley by a 1-0 scoreline, with Luis Diaz having to make do with a spot on the bench once again.
⭐ #INTLIV ⭐
The Reds to face @Inter tonight at the San Siro #UCL
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 16, 2022
Diogo Jota returned to the starting lineup, but the biggest shock was Harvey Elliot, who has been named in the starting XI for the first time since his horrific dislocated ankle that he suffered earlier in the season.
In doing so, he set quite a club record.
Youngest Liverpool player, ever.
In being named in the starting XI, Harvey Elliot became the youngest ever player to start a Champions League game for the Reds. The player he overtook? Now Liverpool mainstay Trent Alexander-Arnold, who made his Champions League debut in 2017 when he was around a month older than Elliot is now.
18 – Aged 18 years and 318 days, Harvey Elliott is the youngest player ever to start a European Cup/Champions League match for Liverpool (excl. qualifiers), overtaking teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold (18y 354d v Spartak Moscow in 2017). Stage. pic.twitter.com/gIXvm6nm89
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 16, 2022
It will be a baptism of fire, with a rowdy San Siro expected to welcome Liverpool back into the Champions League. Elliot will be hoping that it is an occasion that he can rise to.
