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 Even with the away goals rule no longer in force, the victory puts the 2019 Champions League winners in a commanding position ahead of the return leg on March 8 at Anfield.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:
Late Liverpool strikes down Inter Milan and give Jurgen Klopp’s team one foot in the quarter-finals
Simone Inzaghi would have been dismayed, but not dumbfounded. Inter Milan’s coach had called exactly this after all, back in December when the Champions League last-16 draw was made.
“Teams like Liverpool have something more,” he mused. “They always give you the idea that you’re in it, that you can score a goal. Instead, they punish you.”
And so it came to pass. It was all shaping up for an Inter triumph, persistent pressure blended with winning the duels, but then Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah breached their defence eight minutes apart to enact Inzaghi’s prophecy.
Late Liverpool strikes down Inter Milan and give Klopp’s team one foot in last eight
Inter Milan 0-2 Liverpool: Firmino and Salah net with the game’s only shots on target to leave the Reds in a commanding position
Inter Milan 0 - 2 Liverpool
Mo Salah is only the second player to score against both AC Milan and Inter Milan in the same Champions League season, after Peter Crouch for Tottenham in 2010-11.
Harvey Elliott keeps his head as Liverpool prevail in frantic Champions League battle
It was in midfield where the pace of Liverpool’s crucial away victory at Inter Milan was set, even if the protagonists had been removed by the time the winning goals were scored.
Two teams, simultaneously opposed and mirrored in systems and approaches, whirred and buzzed to the tune of a high intensity press. A matchup of individual duels and isolated battles, played at frantic speed and on a tightrope, as San Siro boomed at the sight of a Champions League knockout match returning to this famous stadium.
In the middle of it all was Harvey Elliott, who even if he wanted a moment to take in the sheer improbability of starting in this last-16 tie would have been denied both the time and the space to do so.
Harvey Elliott keeps his head as Liverpool prevail in frantic Champions League battle
Inter Milan 0-2 Liverpool: Elliott made an impressive debut in a match defined by its intensity
Inter Milan 0 - 2 Liverpool
Goals from Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah were enough for Liverpool to see off a stern test from Inter Milan and take a commanding two-goal cushion back to Anfield for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
Full-time: Inter Milan 0 - 2 Liverpool
90+3 mins: Goals in the second half from Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah eased the pressure on Liverpool and secured a 2-0 win away from home in their round of 16 first leg against Inter Milan.
It was a tough night for the Reds but they defended well against a resolute Inter side and took their chances inside the final 15 minutes.
Inter Milan 0 - 2 Liverpool
90 mins: Liverpool pss the ball around midfield keeping it away from Inter Milan. There are three minutes of added time to play. The Reds will want to hold on to a clean sheet. That would top off a perfect night for them.
Inter Milan 0 - 2 Liverpool
86 mins: Inter Milan can’t believe. They haven’t played badly enough to be two goals down at home. There’s an argument to be made that they should be winning the game but Liverpool have defended well and have certainly been the more clinical side in front of goal.
Thiago Alcantara is taken off by Jurgen Klopp and James Milner comes on making his 800th professional appearance.
GOAL! Inter Milan 0 - 2 Liverpool (Salah, 83’)⚽️
83 mins: Killer blow! Andy Robertson swings the free kick into the box and picks out Virgil van Dijk. He nods the ball down into the box toward Ibrahima Konate. Konate gets a shout and jumps away from the ball as Mo Salah arrives and sweeps the ball into the back of the net with his left-foot! Liverpool double their lead and look likely to take a two-goal advantage back to Anfield.
Inter Milan 0 - 1 Liverpool
81 mins: It’s better from Liverpool who have found a bit more control in midfield since the introduction of Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita. The Reds win a free kick on the right side of the pitch and Andy Robertson has the chance to whip the ball back into the Inter Milan box.
Inter Milan 0 - 1 Liverpool
78 mins: Liverpool have had a lot of defending to do tonight and their attacks have been limited. It’s been hard work for Jurgen Klopp’s men but they break the deadlock and take a crucial lead in this Champions League tie.
The visitors win another corner and Alexander-Arnold whips it into the area this time. Bastoni gets a glancing header to it this time and flicks the ball oover to the far side of the box where Inter Milan boot it clear.
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