Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi was overhead giving one of his players specific advice about Harvey Elliott on Wednesday.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp made the surprise decision to start the youngster at the San Siro in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 clash between the two teams.
Elliott has spent large portions of the season on the sidelines after suffering a serious ankle injury, although he has been gradually working his way back to fitness in recent weeks.
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The 18-year-old came off the bench and scored in the FA Cup clash against Cardiff City, but taking on Italian champions Inter in their own back yard clearly represented a stiffer test for the Liverpool midfielder.
The decision seemingly caught out the Inter boss before the game too and it's been reported he gave Marcelo Brozovic a warning about a potential on-pitch battle with Elliott.
"Keep an eye out, perhaps they put that lad in midfield to man-mark you," said Inzaghi, per Mediaset Infinity (h/t Football Italia ).
Brozovic tends to operate as the deepest of Inter's midfielders, taking the ball from the three-man defence and looking to instigate attacks.
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While he and Nicolo Barella have forged a fine partnership in recent years, the latter was suspended for the first leg.
In the end, Elliott's brief appeared to be more of an attacking one, as he was given freedom to roam from his central midfield berth.
Liverpool went on to complete a 2-0 win against Inter, giving themselves a strong platform going into the second leg at Anfield next month, after goals from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah.
