Inter Milan VS Liverpool: Salah and Firmino on target as Reds win 2-0

Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah were on target as Liverpool defeated Inter Milan 2-0 in the Champions League last-16 first leg fixture at San Siro on Wednesday. Jurgen Klopp’s side had to withstand pressure against the Italian champions before Firmino broke the deadlock in the 75tm minute. Eight minutes after the goal, Salah  doubled the lead with his fine finish. Inter had their moments when Hakan Calhanoglu’s effort struck the underside of the crossbar with Alisson beaten.

⚽️ Firmino & Salah ⚽️

? Liverpool claim first-leg lead with late show at Inter. Key moment was _______#UCL

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 16, 2022

Inter started the match brightly as Lautaro Martinez’ shot from outside the box went just wide inside the opening five minutes. Few minutes later, Calhanoglu latched onto Ivan Persic’s cross from the left but his half-volley struck the underside of the bar and went out.

Ibrahima Konate, who was partnering Virgil van Dijk in the central defense made a crucial interception to prevent Dumfries’ cross from reaching Edin Dzeko inside the box. Inter were the better side in the first half and they created more chances but failed to test Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.

After the break, Dumfries played a long diagonal ball to find the run of Persic on the left, whose cross was just too heavy for onrushing Martinez in front of goal. And then, Konate once again made a crucial interception to prevent Perisic’s cross from reaching Dzeko in front of goal. 

Just before the hour-mark, Dzeko put the ball inside the net, but the linesman had raised the flag for offside. The Center-back’s held their defensive line pretty well to deny the Bosnian striker. 

Salah’s goal seals the win

Liverpool’s new recruit Luis Diz was introduced for Sadio Mane on the hour-mark and the Colombian’s arrival added a bit more pace and spark to Liverpool’s attack. Diaz combined with Trent Alexander-Arnold to get inside the box, but Milan Skriniar made a crucial block to deny the 25-year-old winger. 

Fourteen minutes from time, Liverpool put their nose in front courtesy of Firmino’s header from Robertson’s corner kick. In response, Perisic’s effort from the edge of the box went just over the crossbar.

And then, Van Dijk’s header from Alexander-Arnold’s cross fell to the path of Salah inside the box and the Egyptian slotted home to make the score 2-0. Liverpool became strong favourites to progress to the last eight going into the second leg at Anfield.