Inter vs Liverpool – Calhanoglu blow as talisman forced off with early injury

Inter faced a worrying start to their Champions League match against Liverpool tonight, with talismanic central midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu forced off in the first 12 minutes after what appears to be an issue with his thigh.

The match had barely had time to breathe before the Turkish star was replaced by Piotr Zielinski, with the former Bayer Leverkusen man visibly upset as he left the pitch.

Now the Nerazzurri face a nervous wait to have the midfielder’s condition assessed, with early fears that a spell out could see the regista miss a tricky run of games over the festive period.

The central midfielder has been an integral part of Inter’s strong form this season, finding the net consistently – one of Serie A’s top scorers.

To have the player come off injured, and in such a vital game as the Champions League clash with Liverpool, is a real blow for Cristian Chivu and it will be down to the likes of Zielinski to fill his boots.