In an energetic, well-matched first half, Inter Milan looked like a side eager to make amends for a decade-long UCL knockout drought. Chances were aplenty during an electric opening, with both sides probing regularly. Lautaro Martínez, Milan Škriniar, Thiago Alcântara, and Sadio Mané each came close, but the effort of the half undoubtedly came from Hakan Çalhanoğlu, who clattered a quickly-taken shot off the underside of the crossbar following a counterattack.
Quick transitions had been the theme of the game in the first period, and that continued after HT as the ‘Nerazzurri’ turned the heat up on the ‘Reds’. Martínez came inches away from converting Inter’s early second-half dominance into a lead following a flashed ball across the face of the goal from Ivan Perišić. In search of some much-needed respite, Jürgen Klopp made four changes before the hour-mark, which appeared to have the desired effect, but not before Edin Džeko had a goal correctly chalked off for offside. With Liverpool regaining their foothold in the contest, the result once again looked in the balance.
The visitors had dug deep to remain on an even keel after a 15-minute onslaught, and their reward came in the 75th minute in the form of a vital goal. Andrew Robertson’s corner was flicked on at the near post by a darting Roberto Firmino agonizingly beyond Samir Handanović’s fingertips. Perhaps still reeling from going behind, Inter received a Mo Salah sucker punch minutes later when the Egyptian was first on the scene to guide in Virgil van Dijk’s knock-down. The goal marks Salah’s eighth in the UCL this season and gives Liverpool a formidable lead to take back to Anfield.
