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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Charlotte Coates

Alessandro Del Piero makes blunt Liverpool claim over Champions League draw

Italian World Cup winner Alessandro Del Piero has expressed his desire for Inter Milan to avoid Liverpool in Monday’s Champions League draw for the round of 16.

Inter were joined by Juventus in the last 16 of the competition after the Azzurri topped their group ahead of European Champions Chelsea.

The Italian champions came second in their group - which was topped by Real Madrid - but Del Piero doesn’t feel they have enough strength to take on Liverpool.

When asked who he wanted Inter to draw, the man who played over 500 times for Juventus jokingly said he hopes for Liverpool as they are the ‘strongest team’.

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“I would take Liverpool, who are the strongest!” joked Del Piero while speaking on Sky Sports.

“I hope not for Inter because Liverpool will also be unplayable in February. They are very strong, they have no weaknesses.”

Del Piero is a legend of Italian football after winning six Serie A titles, the Champions League and the World Cup.

An Italian side has not won the Champions League since 2010 where it was Inter who lifted the trophy as Juventus lost in two finals since then.

It is doubtful that either Inter or Juventus will be this year's winners but avoiding teams such as Liverpool in the round of 16 will only enhance their chances.

The Reds look a formidable force on all fronts this season as they sit one point off the summit of the Premier League and became the first English side to win all six of their Champions League group games.

Liverpool know what it takes to become Champions of Europe and they will be gunning for their seventh crown come May.

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