Liverpool’s first home defeat in 12 months was still enough to secure their place in the UEFA Champions League Quarter Finals, winning 2-1 on aggregate over Inter Milan.
Only once in 41 instances has a side progressed in the Champions League after losing the first leg at home by two or more goals.
I Nerazzurri saw this as no worry, however, as they sprung into action from the first whistle.
They had the ball in the back of the net after 14 minutes, though Alexis Sánchez’s involvement in the build-up was flagged offside.
With the visitors in the ascendancy, the match came to a halt in the 25th minute when fans in the Kop signalled there was an issue in the crowd.
Medics and stewards responded swiftly, and it also gave the Reds a much-needed respite to regroup and take control.
Often Liverpool’s final pass was lacking in the first half, though they were unfortunate not to take the lead on two occasions.
First, Joël Matip saw a header crash against the crossbar, then Trent Alexander-Arnold struck the left goal stanchion with a powerful free-kick on the stroke of half-time.
With 45 minutes to see out their 2-0 aggregate lead, the Anfield faithful had no intention of letting their team get away with a lacklustre second half.
The hosts responded, and created their best opportunity to end any thoughts of a comeback.
Samir Handanović fumbled Diogo Jota’s first attempt, though Mohamed Salah could only hit the post on the rebound with the goalkeeper out of the picture.
The Italians had given Liverpool warning signs all night that they were far from down and out, which they did not heed.
Eventually, the visitors found their first ever Champions League goal against the Reds.
After ending his two-and-half-month goal drought on Friday against Salernitana, Lautaro Martínez pounced again to cut Liverpool’s advantage in half with a stunning goal, as momentum changed hands once again.
However, that lasted all of two minutes, as Alexis Sánchez was dismissed with a second yellow card for a high challenge on Thiago.
Simone Inzaghi was forced was to change tactics, giving control of the game back to the home side.
Salah hit the left post late on, completing the Reds’ trifecta of hitting both uprights and the crossbar, and substitute Luis Díaz saw an effort from inside six-yards blocked on the line, though the necessary damage had been done at the San Siro three weeks ago.
Jürgen Klopp’s side may have conceded their 12-match unbeaten run in all competitions with tonight’s 1-0 defeat to the Italian Champions, but qualification for the Champions League Quarter-Finals all that mattered, and it still counts as job done for Liverpool.
