5 Liverpool players who underperformed against Inter Milan | UEFA Champions League Round of 16

#3 Virgil van Dijk

FC Internazionale v Liverpool FC: Round Of Sixteen Leg One - UEFA Champions League

Liverpool's towering centre-back Virgil van Dijk is widely lauded as one of the best players in the world.

Since the start of the season, he has been immense at the back, sniffing out danger and closing down spaces with immaculate precision. Last night, however, his danger-sensing radar was not quite at its best.

He started the game brightly and did ever so well to nullify Lautaro Martinez’s advances in the final third. Offensively, too, he proved his mettle, coming agonizingly close to hitting the back of the net with a thumping header in the 32nd minute.

Overall, Van Dijk was decent at duels, long-ball distribution, and recoveries. Unluckily, he was still culpable for his side’s defeat on Tuesday.

Had it not been for the Dutchman’s momentary lapse in concentration in the second half, Martinez would not have had the space to shoot.

A player of Van Dijk’s quality should have read the situation and closed down the Argentine a lot sooner.

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#2 Sadio Mane

Burnley v Liverpool - Premier League

Sadio Mane was the most mobile of the Liverpool front three on Tuesday night. He was putting the work in, trying to get into dangerous areas, and was trying to create goalscoring opportunities.

Unfortunately, except for his chipped through-ball for Salah in the second half, rarely anything came off for Mane in the match.

The Senegalese forward could not establish himself as a goal threat, failing to get even a single effort on target, with his only shot on Tuesday being well off the mark.

He also lost five duels, provided only a single key pass, and ceded possession eight times over the course of the 90.

Surely a night to forget for the AFCON winner, who was also booked on the night.

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#1 Diogo Jota

Chelsea v Liverpool - Premier League

Jurgen Klopp decided to leave Luis Diaz on the bench against Inter on Tuesday night, allowing Diogo Jota to lead the line. The Portuguese forward was once again a livewire on the pitch, pressing until his leg gave out.

Sadly, his work rate was his only notable contribution in the second leg at Anfield, as he failed miserably on all other fronts.

Not only did Jota fail to register a single shot on Tuesday, but he also could not create a single chance for his teammates. He attempted five dribbles but was unsuccessful in four of them.

The Portugal international was also outmuscled rather easily, losing five of his six ground duels. Additionally, he was rather wasteful in possession, losing the ball a whopping 13 times.

Failing to make an impact, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man was taken off for Diaz in the 83rd minute.

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