Inter Milan lineup vs. Liverpool: Predicted XI for Champions League clash after worrying Manuel Akanji update

Inter Milan's Manchester City-owned defender Manuel Akanji has emerged as a major doubt for Tuesday's Champions League showdown with Liverpool at San Siro.

The Switzerland international has quickly become a mainstay of the Nerazzurri backline since his arrival from the Etihad this summer, but Cristian Chivu revealed on Monday that he has been battling a recent illness.

Akanji has not been definitively ruled out of the fixture with the Reds just yet, but Chivu should side with Yann Bisseck, Francesco Acerbi and Alessandro Bastoni in front of number one Yann Sommer.

Akanji may be one of three notable defensive absentees for the hosts, as wing-backs Denzel Dumfries (ankle) and Matteo Darmian (calf) are still on the sidelines too.

As a result, the left-sided Carlos Augusto could fill in against the Premier League champions, having come off the bench to score in Saturday's 4-0 Serie A victory over Como after replacing Luis Henrique.

Strike partners Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez were also on target in that fixture, and the latter is now bidding to score for the sixth home game in a row in the Champions League.

However, Henrikh Mkhitaryan has had to take more of a backseat role this season, allowing Piotr Zielinski to strut his stuff with Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu in midfield.

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:

Sommer; Acerbi, Bisseck, Bastoni; Augusto, Zielinski, Barella, Calhanoglu, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez

> Click here to see how Liverpool could line up for this game