Inter Milan 0-2 Liverpool: Reds score two late goals to take control of last-16 tie

Liverpool took a huge step towards the Champions League quarter-finals after scoring two late goals against Inter Milan in the San Siro.

The Reds looked set for a goalless draw in the first leg in Italy until Brazil forward Roberto Firmino got on the end of Andrew Robertson’s corner to head his side into the lead.

Mohamed Salah added a second with a deflected effort from inside the box which means Jurgen Klopp’s side take a sizeable advantage into the second leg at Anfield on 8 March.

Italian champions Inter hit the bar through Hakan Çalhanoglu and were on top for long periods of the second half before Firmino struck in the 75th minute.

Liverpool scored from their only two attempts on target and will be firm favourites to progress when the two sides meet in the deciding leg next month.

It was a particularly memorable night for midfielder Harvey Elliott, who became the youngest player ever to start a match in the competition for Liverpool at the age of 18 years and 318 days.

The only negative on an otherwise upbeat night for the Reds was an injury to Portugal forward Diogo Jota, who was replaced by goalscorer Firmino at the start of the second half after suffering an ankle injury.

• Jota injury the only negative – Klopp
• Reaction from Wednesday’s Champions League games
• Go straight to all the best Liverpool content

Lethal Reds impress in Italy

Liverpool have now won seven matches in all competitions, with this arguably the most impressive of the current run.

But Klopp’s team had to dig deep as Inter looked the more threatening side after a strong start by the Premier League club.

Former Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko found himself clean through in the first half before a vital challenge by Virgil van Dijk, who was captaining the Reds in the absence of Jordan Henderson.

The hosts went close again when Ivan Perisic whipped in a cross, but Lautaro Martinez was unable to give Inter the lead.

In a fascinating match, Liverpool took the lead through Firmino’s glancing 75th-minute header before Salah doubled the lead eight minutes later.

There is still work to do for Klopp’s team but it is going to require something extra special from Inter to turn this tie around.

Liverpool remain in the hunt for four trophies and could have one in the bag by the time Inter visit Merseyside, with the Reds facing Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on 27 February.

Teenager Elliott embraces San Siro stage

Despite it only being half full because of Covid-19 restrictions, there was an incredible atmosphere inside the San Siro for the first meeting between these two clubs for 14 years.

Elliott, who does not turn 19 until April, embraced the occasion on what was his first start since suffering a serious ankle injury in September.

The teenager did not look out of place on one of the most famous stages in world football and produced a cross in the first half which was just cut out before Salah could poke it over the line.

Elliott was replaced in the 59th minute as part of a triple change as Klopp attempted to turn the tide as Inter threatened – a move that worked as Liverpool went on to establish a strong advantage.

“He did the job, he was working incredibly hard, but when you’re 18 years old and playing one of the most experienced teams in word football, it is not a walk in the park,” said Klopp.

“So it was an important game for him and very helpful for us as well.”

Player of the match

RobertsonAndrew Robertson

with an average of 8.38

Inter Milan

1. Squad number14Player namePerisic

2. Squad number6Player namede Vrij

3. Squad number20Player nameCalhanoglu

4. Squad number37Player nameSkriniar

5. Squad number9Player nameDzeko

6. Squad number10Player nameMartínez

7. Squad number2Player nameDumfries

8. Squad number95Player nameBastoni

9. Squad number1Player nameHandanovic

10. Squad number5Player nameGagliardini

11. Squad number77Player nameBrozovic

12. Squad number13Player nameRanocchia

13. Squad number36Player nameDarmian

14. Squad number32Player nameDimarco

15. Squad number22Player nameVidal

16. Squad number7Player nameSánchez

Liverpool

1. Squad number26Player nameRobertson

2. Squad number9Player nameRoberto Firmino

3. Squad number5Player nameKonaté

4. Squad number23Player nameDíaz

5. Squad number11Player nameMohamed Salah

6. Squad number1Player nameAlisson

7. Squad number4Player namevan Dijk

8. Squad number3Player nameFabinho

9. Squad number14Player nameHenderson

10. Squad number6Player nameThiago Alcántara

11. Squad number66Player nameAlexander-Arnold

12. Squad number10Player nameMané

13. Squad number8Player nameKeïta

14. Squad number20Player nameDiogo Jota

15. Squad number67Player nameElliott

16. Squad number7Player nameMilner

Line-ups

Inter Milan

Formation 3-5-2

1Handanovic

37Skriniar6de Vrij95Bastoni

2Dumfries22Vidal77Brozovic20Calhanoglu14Perisic

10Martínez9Dzeko

• 1Handanovic
• 37Skriniar
• 6de VrijSubstituted forRanocchiaat 87′minutes
• 95BastoniSubstituted forDimarcoat 90+1′minutes
• 2DumfriesSubstituted forDarmianat 87′minutes
• 22VidalSubstituted forGagliardiniat 87′minutes
• 77Brozovic
• 20Calhanoglu
• 14Perisic
• 10MartínezSubstituted forSánchezat 70′minutes
• 9Dzeko

Substitutes

• 5Gagliardini
• 7Sánchez
• 13Ranocchia
• 21Cordaz
• 32Dimarco
• 33D’Ambrosio
• 36Darmian
• 38Sangalli
• 47Carboni
• 88Caicedo
• 97Radu

Liverpool

Formation 4-3-3

1Alisson

66Alexander-Arnold5Konaté4van Dijk26Robertson

67Elliott3Fabinho6Thiago Alcántara

11Salah20Jota10Mané

• 1Alisson
• 66Alexander-Arnold
• 5Konaté
• 4van Dijk
• 26Robertson
• 67ElliottSubstituted forKeïtaat 59′minutes
• 3FabinhoSubstituted forHendersonat 59′minutes
• 6Thiago AlcántaraSubstituted forMilnerat 86′minutes
• 11Salah
• 20JotaSubstituted forFirminoat 45′minutes
• 10ManéSubstituted forDíazat 59′minutes

Substitutes

• 7Milner
• 8Keïta
• 9Firmino
• 12Gomez
• 14Henderson
• 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
• 18Minamino
• 21Tsimikas
• 23Díaz
• 27Origi
• 32Matip
• 62Kelleher

Referee:

Szymon Marciniak

Attendance:

37,918

Live Text

1. Match ends, Inter Milan 0, Liverpool 2.

2. Second Half ends, Inter Milan 0, Liverpool 2.

3. Foul by Naby Keïta (Liverpool).

4. Roberto Gagliardini (Inter Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

5. Substitution, Inter Milan. Federico Dimarco replaces Alessandro Bastoni.

6. Substitution, Inter Milan. Andrea Ranocchia replaces Stefan de Vrij.

7. Substitution, Inter Milan. Matteo Darmian replaces Denzel Dumfries.

8. Substitution, Inter Milan. Roberto Gagliardini replaces Arturo Vidal.

9. Foul by James Milner (Liverpool).

10. Milan Skriniar (Inter Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

11. Substitution, Liverpool. James Milner replaces Thiago.

12. Foul by Naby Keïta (Liverpool).

13. Arturo Vidal (Inter Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

14. Goal! Inter Milan 0, Liverpool 2. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner following a set piece situation.

15. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

16. Foul by Arturo Vidal (Inter Milan).

17. Attempt missed. Ivan Perisic (Inter Milan) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.

18. Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Stefan de Vrij.

19. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.

20. Foul by Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan).

Liverpool have won seven games in a row in all competitionsLiverpool took a huge step towards the Champions League quarter-finals after scoring two late goals against Inter Milan in the San Siro.The Reds looked set for a goalless draw in the first leg in Italy until Brazil forward Roberto Firmino got on the end of Andrew Robertson’s corner to head his side into the lead.Mohamed Salah added a second with a deflected effort from inside the box which means Jurgen Klopp’s side take a sizeable advantage into the second leg at Anfield on 8 March.Italian champions Inter hit the bar through Hakan Çalhanoglu and were on top for long periods of the second half before Firmino struck in the 75th minute.Liverpool scored from their only two attempts on target and will be firm favourites to progress when the two sides meet in the deciding leg next month.It was a particularly memorable night for midfielder Harvey Elliott, who became the youngest player ever to start a match in the competition for Liverpool at the age of 18 years and 318 days.The only negative on an otherwise upbeat night for the Reds was an injury to Portugal forward Diogo Jota, who was replaced by goalscorer Firmino at the start of the second half after suffering an ankle injury.Jota injury the only negative – KloppReaction from Wednesday’s Champions League gamesGo straight to all the best Liverpool contentLethal Reds impress in ItalyLiverpool have now won seven matches in all competitions, with this arguably the most impressive of the current run.But Klopp’s team had to dig deep as Inter looked the more threatening side after a strong start by the Premier League club.Former Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko found himself clean through in the first half before a vital challenge by Virgil van Dijk, who was captaining the Reds in the absence of Jordan Henderson.The hosts went close again when Ivan Perisic whipped in a cross, but Lautaro Martinez was unable to give Inter the lead.In a fascinating match, Liverpool took the lead through Firmino’s glancing 75th-minute header before Salah doubled the lead eight minutes later.There is still work to do for Klopp’s team but it is going to require something extra special from Inter to turn this tie around.Liverpool remain in the hunt for four trophies and could have one in the bag by the time Inter visit Merseyside, with the Reds facing Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on 27 February.Teenager Elliott embraces San Siro stageDespite it only being half full because of Covid-19 restrictions, there was an incredible atmosphere inside the San Siro for the first meeting between these two clubs for 14 years.Elliott, who does not turn 19 until April, embraced the occasion on what was his first start since suffering a serious ankle injury in September.Harvey Elliott joined Liverpool from Fulham in July 2019The teenager did not look out of place on one of the most famous stages in world football and produced a cross in the first half which was just cut out before Salah could poke it over the line.Elliott was replaced in the 59th minute as part of a triple change as Klopp attempted to turn the tide as Inter threatened – a move that worked as Liverpool went on to establish a strong advantage.”He did the job, he was working incredibly hard, but when you’re 18 years old and playing one of the most experienced teams in word football, it is not a walk in the park,” said Klopp. “So it was an important game for him and very helpful for us as well.”Player of the matchRobertsonAndrew Robertsonwith an average of 8.38Inter MilanSquad number14Player namePerisicSquad number6Player namede VrijSquad number20Player nameCalhanogluSquad number37Player nameSkriniarSquad number9Player nameDzekoSquad number10Player nameMartínezSquad number2Player nameDumfriesSquad number95Player nameBastoniSquad number1Player nameHandanovicSquad number5Player nameGagliardiniSquad number77Player nameBrozovicSquad number13Player nameRanocchiaSquad number36Player nameDarmianSquad number32Player nameDimarcoSquad number22Player nameVidalSquad number7Player nameSánchezLiverpoolSquad number26Player nameRobertsonSquad number9Player nameRoberto FirminoSquad number5Player nameKonatéSquad number23Player nameDíazSquad number11Player nameMohamed SalahSquad number1Player nameAlissonSquad number4Player namevan DijkSquad number3Player nameFabinhoSquad number14Player nameHendersonSquad number6Player nameThiago AlcántaraSquad number66Player nameAlexander-ArnoldSquad number10Player nameManéSquad number8Player nameKeïtaSquad number20Player nameDiogo JotaSquad number67Player nameElliottSquad number7Player nameMilnerLine-upsInter MilanFormation 3-5-21Handanovic37Skriniar6de Vrij95Bastoni2Dumfries22Vidal77Brozovic20Calhanoglu14Perisic10Martínez9Dzeko1Handanovic37Skriniar6de VrijSubstituted forRanocchiaat 87’minutes95BastoniSubstituted forDimarcoat 90+1’minutes2DumfriesSubstituted forDarmianat 87’minutes22VidalSubstituted forGagliardiniat 87’minutes77Brozovic20Calhanoglu14Perisic10MartínezSubstituted forSánchezat 70’minutes9DzekoSubstitutes5Gagliardini7Sánchez13Ranocchia21Cordaz32Dimarco33D’Ambrosio36Darmian38Sangalli47Carboni88Caicedo97RaduLiverpoolFormation 4-3-31Alisson66Alexander-Arnold5Konaté4van Dijk26Robertson67Elliott3Fabinho6Thiago Alcántara11Salah20Jota10Mané1Alisson66Alexander-Arnold5Konaté4van Dijk26Robertson67ElliottSubstituted forKeïtaat 59’minutes3FabinhoSubstituted forHendersonat 59’minutes6Thiago AlcántaraSubstituted forMilnerat 86’minutes11Salah20JotaSubstituted forFirminoat 45’minutes10ManéSubstituted forDíazat 59’minutesSubstitutes7Milner8Keïta9Firmino12Gomez14Henderson15Oxlade-Chamberlain18Minamino21Tsimikas23Díaz27Origi32Matip62KelleherReferee:Szymon MarciniakAttendance:37,918Live TextMatch ends, Inter Milan 0, Liverpool 2.Second Half ends, Inter Milan 0, Liverpool 2.Foul by Naby Keïta (Liverpool).Roberto Gagliardini (Inter Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Substitution, Inter Milan. Federico Dimarco replaces Alessandro Bastoni.Substitution, Inter Milan. Andrea Ranocchia replaces Stefan de Vrij.Substitution, Inter Milan. Matteo Darmian replaces Denzel Dumfries.Substitution, Inter Milan. Roberto Gagliardini replaces Arturo Vidal.Foul by James Milner (Liverpool).Milan Skriniar (Inter Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Substitution, Liverpool. James Milner replaces Thiago.Foul by Naby Keïta (Liverpool).Arturo Vidal (Inter Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Goal! Inter Milan 0, Liverpool 2. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner following a set piece situation.Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.Foul by Arturo Vidal (Inter Milan).Attempt missed. Ivan Perisic (Inter Milan) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Stefan de Vrij.Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.Foul by Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan).