Late goals from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah helped Liverpool race to a two-goal advantage against Inter Milan, which they will defend in the Champions League round of 16 return leg on March 8.
The Reds have one foot in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals now, but things could have turned out differently had Hakan Calhanoglu’s shot in the 16th minute, which he attempted after taking Ivan Perisic’s cross in his stride, nestled under the bar instead of hitting it.
The Croat, particularly, was a threat to Jurgen Klopp’s men all night, but they came out of the match unscathed, thanks to some good defending and poor finishing.
Having defended their goal masterfully at one end, Liverpool went down the other and took the lead in the 75th minute. Roberto Firmino scored the opening goal, flicking in a Trent Alexander-Arnold delivery from a corner across Samir Handanovic and into the corner of the net.
Mohamed Salah doubled the lead eight minutes later with a snap-shot from the centre of the box. The ball had broken to the Egyptian kindly due to Stefan de Vrij’s poor touch, and his subsequent shot took a deflection off of an Inter player before hitting the back of Handanovic’s goal.
Elsewhere, RB Salzburg took a surprise lead against 2019/10 Champions League winners Bayern Munich. USA international Brenden Aaronson became the youngest player since Lionel Messi to create five chances in a knockout stage fixture.
He also provided the assist for Chukwubuike Adamu’s opening goal in the 21st minute, touching the ball into the forward’s path before he curled it around Sven Ulreich in goal.
Bayern’s attempts to get back level hit several stumbling blocks, and it wasn’t until the very last minute of the match that the Salzburg net bulged. After saving Adamu’s goal-bound effort on the line at one end, Benjamin Pavard provided the cross for the Bavarians’ equalizer, which Kingsley Coman touched in from close range.
No away goals rule means Bayern don’t take advantage with them to the return leg, which, three weeks from now, will take place at the Allianz Arena.
