2 years ago
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ARTICLE AD BOX
By Neil JohnstonBBC Sport
Last updated on 7 minutes ago.From the section Champions League
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 attempt 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 but will be firm favourites to progress when the two sides meet in the deciding leg next month.
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 Jurgen 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 - who gave 18-year-old Harvey Elliott his first Champions League start - 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.
More to follow.
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Inter Milan
Squad number1Player nameHandanovic
Squad number37Player nameSkriniar
Squad number6Player namede Vrij
Squad number95Player nameBastoni
Squad number2Player nameDumfries
Squad number22Player nameVidal
Squad number77Player nameBrozovic
Squad number20Player nameCalhanoglu
Squad number14Player namePerisic
Squad number10Player nameMartínez
Squad number9Player nameDzeko
Squad number5Player nameGagliardini
Squad number7Player nameSánchez
Squad number13Player nameRanocchia
Squad number32Player nameDimarco
Squad number36Player nameDarmian
Liverpool
Squad number1Player nameAlisson
Squad number66Player nameAlexander-Arnold- Squad number5Player nameKonaté
Squad number4Player namevan Dijk
Squad number26Player nameRobertson- Squad number67Player nameElliott
- Squad number3Player nameFabinho
- Squad number6Player nameThiago Alcántara
Squad number11Player nameMohamed Salah- Squad number20Player nameDiogo Jota
Squad number10Player nameMané
Squad number7Player nameMilner- Squad number8Player nameKeïta
Squad number9Player nameRoberto Firmino
Squad number14Player nameHenderson- Squad number23Player nameDíaz
Line-ups
Inter Milan
Formation 3-5-2
- 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-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
Match 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).
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