Liverpool travel to Italy in the Champions League last 16 this week to face Inter Milan at the infamous San Siro.
The two European giants have only ever gone head-to-head four times in their history, with the Italians getting the better of Liverpool over to legs in 1965, only for Liverpool to gain revenge in 2008.
The Reds go into Wednesday’s Champions League round of 16 tie in a healthy position, still battling on all four fronts for the first time at this stage of a season since the 1982/83 campaign.
Jurgen Klopp will be pleased to have midfielders Thiago and Harvey Elliot back from injury to make the squad depth look a whole lot stronger as they enter the business stage of the season.
Main men Mohammed Salah and Sadio Mane are back in contention just at the right time after returning from Afcon.
Inter and Liverpool have a rich history in Europe’s most esteemed competition – and there is a fascinating history between the two clubs.
The European cup semi-final was their first encounter in 1965 and is remembered with a level of controversy, with Liverpool winning the first leg 3-1 at Anfield.
However, it is the second leg in Italy where this unusual rivalry was born.
Despite having a two-goal lead to protect, Liverpool were up against it heading to a daunting San Siro with a capacity of 76,601.
A late Kick off at 9.15pm may have unsettled the Reds as by half nine, Inter were already level on aggregate.
The two goals were both very controversial, with the first being a direct shot from a free kick that Liverpool claimed the referee had signalled to be an indirect one.
The second just 60 seconds later involved a foul on goalkeeper Tommy Laurence that was let go by the referee.
After falling behind further, Liverpool were then hit with more controversy when they had a goal ruled out for a close call offside.
Liverpool were knocked out with Inter going on to win the final.
And although nothing illegal was ever confirmed, Inter’s secretary at the time, Italo Allodi, had been accused of match-fixing throughout his career.
Given the problems the Italian league has had with match-fixing, it is hard for Liverpool to accept they were beaten fairly.
The more recent tie between the two 14 years ago was a lot more enjoyable for the Reds.
A memorable Fernando Torres goal in the San Siro gave Liverpool a comfortable 3-0 aggregate win to advance to the quarter-final of the Champions League.
Despite Liverpool gaining some revenge in 2008, they will be looking to punish the Italians even further this week with Klopp’s side going into the match with some momentum.
Liverpool will also be looking to get the better of old rivals and ex Manchester United players Alexis Sanchez and Matteo Darmian and should they do so, it will go further in putting to bed the demons of 1965.
(Featured image courtesy of Jose Luis Hidalgo Ruiz)
