Liverpool qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League on March 8, 2022, despite losing 1-0 at home to Inter Milan. The English club had won 2-0 in Italy, in the round of 16 first leg.
In 2022, Liverpool are no longer undefeated. The English football club was also not irresistible, this March 8, 2022, in the round of 16 second leg of the Champions League.
Winners 2-0 in Italy on February 16, the Reds first relied on this accounting advantage on Tuesday. Shy in the face of Inter Milan, they were reframed by their coach, Jürgen Klopp, around half an hour into the game. The German coach took advantage of a short break in the game to gather his players.
The reaction is not long in coming. In the 30th minute, Cameroonian defender Joël Matip sends the ball over the crossbar with a whim. During additional time, it is a free kick from the side Trent Alexander-Arnold which passes not far from the cage guarded by the Slovenian goalkeeper Samir Handanovic (45th + 7).
Emotional lift for Inter Milan
After the break, it was a new (deflected) shot from Alexander-Arnold which forced Handanovic to be vigilant (48th). But the real danger comes from Mohamed Salah who shoots on the left upright of the visitors (52nd).
Liverpool then seemed to have the game in hand. But that’s not counting with a superb floating strike from Lautaro Martinez. The Argentinian striker sends the ball into the opposite corner: 0-1, 61st. The Italian delegation exults but quickly comes down to earth.
Because in the 63rd minute, the Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez is excluded for a second warning. His poorly mastered tackle penalizes Inter Milan, reduced to ten against eleven.
Liverpool’s bad luck
However, Liverpool do not exploit their numerical superiority. Above all, the Reds are unlucky, like Salah. A resumption of the Egyptian indeed finds the right amount, this time, at the 76and minute. Then it’s Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal who narrowly deflects a shot from Colombian striker Luis Diaz, incredulous (90and+2).
Result, a first defeat (in all competitions) since December 28, for the British team. The essential is however assured for the band of Salah and Sadio Mané. They will know their next opponents, on March 18, after the draw for the quarters and semi-finals of this Champions League.