Paolo Di Canio has given Inter Milan some advice on how they can beat Liverpool in the upcoming last-16 Champions League clash - and it centres around exploiting Virgil van Dijk.
The first leg between the European giants takes place on Wednesday in the San Siro before the return leg at Anfield follows on March 8.
Liverpool are favourites to progress to the quarter-finals over the two legs.
But former AC Milan star Di Canio, who became a Premier League favourite at West Ham United, has pinpointed striker Edin Dzeko as a source of success for the Italians.
The former Sunderland boss thinks ex-Manchester City forward Dzeko can cause problems for Virgil van Dijk, who he believes is 'not the same player' since returning from a serious knee injury.
“Had it been in October or November, when the English side tend to give their best, I’d have bet less on Inter,” Di Canio told La Gazzetta dello Sport magazine SportWeek.
“Inter do still have an international level this season, as they only lost against Real Madrid due to a lack of clinical finishing, not certainly ideas or style.
“At this stage of the season, Liverpool have some small cracks in the armour that can be exploited. The Liverpool of two years ago had an impenetrable defence, as Virgil van Dijk had improved everyone around him. Since returning from injury, he’s not the same player and therefore the whole team concedes more.
“Liverpool keep conceding the same dangerous opportunities nowadays, vertical balls behind the defenders, who then start their runs late. That lack of focus is where Inter can hurt them.
“If you also look at Van Dijk’s body language, he used to move his arms to bring the full-backs tighter, but now he just flails his arms, complaining and looking frustrated with his team-mates.”
