Liverpool vs Inter Milan LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction from fixture tonight
Follow live coverage as Jurgen Klopp’s Reds look to put one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals with the first leg in Milan
Follow live reaction as late goals from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah earned Liverpool a 2-0 victory at Inter Milan in their Champions League last-16 first leg on Wednesday.
Inter had the better of the first-half chances, with Hakan Calhanoglu firing against the crossbar when afforded too much time in the penalty area. Liverpool were struggling to create many opportunities, with coach Jurgen Klopp ringing the changes in the second half, and one of those substitutes came up trumps - Firmino flicking home from a corner to break the deadlock in the 75th minute.
With their resistance broken, the errors started to creep in for Inter and Salah pounced when they failed to clear a long ball into the box to put the game to bed seven minutes from time. Even with the away goals rule no longer in force, the victory puts the 2019 Champions League winners in a commanding position ahead of the return leg on March 8 at Anfield.
Follow all the reaction below:
Inter Milan vs Liverpool: Trent Alexander-Arnold bullish over Liverpool’s treble chances
Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold believes Jurgen Klopp’s multi-talented squad are capable of winning a treble this season.
Having lifted the Champions League and Premier League in back-to-back years in 2019 and 2020, last season was a barren one for the Reds and the players have set themselves the minimum requirement of securing at least one piece of silverware per year.
But Alexander-Arnold thinks their continued involvement in four competitions means there are greater riches to be had, even if chasing down Manchester City’s nine-point lead looks a tough ask in the Premier League.
Trent Alexander-Arnold bullish over Liverpool’s treble chances
The Reds are still fighting on four fronts this season
Inter Milan vs Liverpool
Liverpool are in the knockout stages for the 12th time in their last 15 Champions League campaigns.
Jürgen Klopp’s men have won eight of their last 11 away games in this competition, most recently at San Siro when they beat AC Milan in the group stage in December.
The Reds have won their last four two-legged ties against Italian opponents since losing to Genoa in the Uefa Cup in 1992 at the quarter-final stage.
Inter Milan vs Liverpool: The most recent meeting
The most recent of the sides’ two ties came at this stage of the 2007/08 Champions League, Liverpool winning 3-0 on aggregate.
Late strikes from Dirk Kuyt (85) and Steven Gerrard (90) earned the home side a 2-0 win at Anfield on 19 February 2008, Fernando Torres’ 64th-minute effort for the visitors the only goal of the San Siro return on 11th March.
Inter Milan vs Liverpool: Everything you need to know about Liverpool’s opponents before Champions League tie
Liverpool’s Champions League quest for success continues with a trip back to Italy and a familiar ground from just months ago...albeit against a very different side they haven’t faced in a decade and a half.
During the group stage it was AC Milan and the San Siro - featuring Nat Phillips with an iconic dragback - whereas this time it’s Inter Milan the opponents and the stadium name therefore the Giuseppe Meazza, in the last-16 first leg.
The Reds are facing the reigning Italian champions, recently knocked off top spot in Serie A but still well in the running for another title. It’s a three-way fight there, but the Nerazzurri haven’t come through recent tests well - a derby defeat to AC, and a draw with Napoli. All three sides are within two points at the top. On a more localised level of form, it’s three wins from six in all competitions for Inter heading into this game.
Everything you need to know about Inter Milan before Liverpool’s Champions League tie
The Reds head back to the Giuseppe Meazza having won at the same stadium earlier this year
Inter Milan vs Liverpool: Klopp on Inter
Jurgen Klopp took the opportunity to speak about what he expects from tonight’s game and how impressed he has been with Inter Milan this season. Speaking about the Italian side he said:
A top-class team with a top-class manager. Probably the best team again in Italy this season. Very good organisation, very well drilled, creativity on the pitch and good individuals. We need to give a top-class performance to even have a chance.”
Inter Milan vs Liverpool
This is one of two ties in the 2021/22 Champions League round of 16, along with Benfica-Ajax, to bring together two former European Cup winners, although this is only these two sides’ fifth competitive fixture.
Inter are in the Champions League knockout rounds for the 11th time but the first in ten years having finished runners-up to Real Madrid in Group D, while Liverpool became the first English club to win all six games in a Champions League section as they ended Group B 11 points clear.
Inter Milan vs Liverpool: Inzaghi on Liverpool
Inter Milan head coach, Simone Inzaghi, spoke about tonight’s clash and believes that Liverpool are the favourites to win the game. Even so he is backing his players to get a positive results. He said:
I think Liverpool are the favourites, but matches have to be played. We need to impose our style. I want my players to play with a free mind; it could make a difference in this match. The lads are determined to win.”
Inter Milan vs Liverpool: Team changes
Simone Inzaghi makes two changes to the Inter Milan team that drew 1-1 with Napoli at the weekend in Serie A. Nicolo Barella is suspended so drops out, as does Federico Dimarco. In their place come Arturo Vidal and Alessandro Bastoni.
Jurgen Klopp makes four changes to the Liverpool team that started against Burnley last time out. Ibrahima Konate comes in to partner Virgil van Dijk in defence with Thiago Alcantara and Harvey Elliott alongside Fabinho in midfield. Diogo Jota joins Mo Salah and Sadio Mane in the forward line.
Inter Milan vs Liverpool: Line-ups
Inter Milan XI: Handanovic, Bastoni, Skriniar, De Vrij, Dumfries, Vidal, Brozovic, Hakan Calhanoglu, Perisic, Dzeko, Martinez
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara, Elliott, Salah, Jota, Mane
Inter Milan vs Liverpool: Why Liverpool fans with long memories will feel they owe Inter Milan a taste of European heartache
The San Siro holds mixed memories for Kopites. Liverpool visit one of the world’s great stadiums tomorrow to play Inter Milan in the knockout round of the Champions League. It is just the third time the teams have been drawn together in Europe.
Many will recall a memorable night 14 years ago when Fernando Torres scored a superb goal in a 1-0 victory that eased the Reds into the quarter-finals. Older Liverpool fans shudder when they think of Inter. It is commonly believed that the Italian side cheated Bill Shankly’s team out of the chance to become the first English champions of Europe.
Rivals come and go but for the players involved in 1965, the sense of injustice lingers. The late Tommy Smith used to bridle when Inter’s name was mentioned. “Bloody cheats,” he would say. He is not the only one who took his resentment to the grave.
Why Liverpool fans with long memories will be desperate to beat Inter Milan
Jurgen Klopp’s modern-day side are arguably the favourites as the two teams prepare to meet, but in the Reds’ earliest days of European adventure it was the Nerazzurri who proved too streetwise to handle
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