Liverpool are the second team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The English made the goalkeeper shiver three times and shivered themselves after the handsome 0-1 by Lautaro Martinez, but Alexis Sanchez immediately killed Inter with a stupid red card.
Liverpool – Inter in a nutshell:
- Key moment: On the hour, Lautaro Martinez gives Inter hope again with a pearl of a goal. Barely a minute later, Sanchez takes the wind out of his sails again with a stupid second yellow card. Liverpool won’t get in trouble with a man anymore.
- Man of the match: Trent Alexander-Arnold was ubiquitous at Liverpool. With a corner kick, a free kick or a great cross. It didn’t matter to the English right back, he invariably caused danger. Only the finish of his teammates failed.
- Remarkable: Inter are the first team to beat Liverpool at Anfield Road this season. The English top club has been unbeaten at home for more than 28 games, since the league defeat against Fulham, one day after a year ago.
- Statistics: Not an 8th straight win in this Champions League campaign for Liverpool. The select few clubs that did succeed in doing so are thus limited to Barcelona (in 2002-2003) and Bayern Munich (in 2019-2020).
- Prize cabinet: Liverpool stay on course for a clean sweep. It has already won the League Cup, is in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and the Champions League and is also still in the running for a new league title.
Matip hits the crossbar, Calhanoglu on Alisson
After the 0-2 defeat in Milan, Inter needed a small miracle to advance to the quarter-finals. Still, the visitors did not start the game with lead in their shoes. An eager Inter took the initiative, but bit his teeth on the solid Liverpool defence.
The home team was not in much of a hurry with the bonus in their pocket, but suddenly came close to 1-0 after half an hour. Alexander-Arnold painted a free kick to Matip’s head and it ended on the crossbar. Immediately afterwards it was Van Dijk who was able to head free on a corner, Skriniar was just able to block his attempt.
In a not very uplifting first half, Inter could only really create danger in the final minutes. Calhanoglu surprised almost everyone with a direct free kick, but not Alisson. The Liverpool goalkeeper kept the zero on the scoreboard with a clever reflex.
Sanchez ruins remonte after beautiful goal Martinez
Shortly after the break, the goal box stood in the way for Liverpool a second time. Handanovic dived for the ball in front of Jota, but Salah had an open chance in the restart. From close by, he surprisingly hit the post, a rare miss by the Egyptian.
Liverpool were a lot more eager in the second half, while Inter hopes for a stunt seemed to be melting away. Until Martinez unpacked on the hour with a phenomenal shot. From the edge of the sixteen he shot the 0-1 nicely into the intersection.
For a moment it seemed to be getting exciting, but a minute later Sanchez screwed up for Inter. With an unnecessary foul he took his second yellow card. Liverpool held on so easily and even came close to 1-1, but the ball wouldn’t go in. Salah hit the post again and Diaz also failed to score in extra time.
