Virgil van Dijk impressed while Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah scored late to fire Liverpool to a 2-0 win over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League.
The Round of 16 first leg tie between Inter Milan and Liverpool at San Siro was off to an intense start as Lautaro Martinez came very close to opening the scoring just six minutes in, while Thiago Alcantara sent a shot just over at the other end moments later. Sadio Mane then had a good chance, but his header from Andrew Robertson’s cross flew over the bar.
Two minutes later, Inter Milan almost went ahead through Hakan Calhanoglu, but his effort thundered into the crossbar. There were a few more half-chances, but the scoreline remained goalless at half-time. The Nerazzurri began the second half well and looked to be putting their visitors under pressure, but a goal was not forthcoming.
Edin Dzeko put the ball into the net but was offside while Luis Diaz had an effort blocked at the other end. But with 15 minutes left on the clock, substitute Roberto Firmino produced a lovely flicked header to divert Robertson’s cross into the back of the net and put the Reds in front. Jurgen Klopp’s side doubled their tally eight minutes later through Mohamed Salah’s precise effort to kill the game.
The late two-goal salvo puts Liverpool in a commanding position in this Round of 16 tie, heading into the second leg. Inter Milan have a near-impossible task at their hand as they will need to overturn a two-goal deficit at a packed Anfield. The Hard Tackle now looks at how players from both teams fared on Wednesday night in Milan.
Inter Milan
Samir Handanovic: 5/10
The Inter Milan captain faced just two shots on target on the night, and both of those went into the back of the net. He could not have done much to stop either of those efforts.
Milan Skriniar: 7/10
Inter Milan’s best defender on the night, Milan Skriniar, had several good moments on both ends of the pitch. The Slovak made several crucial interventions at the back, producing two key blocks while he was also a menace in the opposition box in the air. He won most of his duels on the ground and in the air.
Milan Skriniar’s first half by numbers vs Liverpool:
75% pass accuracy
42 touches
9 duels contested
8 duels won
3 tackles won
3 attempted take-ons
2 successful take-ons
2 interceptions
2 clearancesThe stand-out CB on the pitch. ??? pic.twitter.com/jWcAvowypL
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) February 16, 2022
Stefan de Vrij: 6/10
The Dutch centre-half had one or two nervy moments with the ball at his feet but held things together well for the most part. However, he could not clear the ball in the lead-up to Liverpool’s second.
Alessandro Bastoni: 5/10
Not his best display as the youngster looked shaky going up against the Liverpool forwards. While he did grow in confidence as the game wore on, he failed to mark Firmino, which led to Liverpool’s opener.
Denzel Dumfries: 5/10
The summer signing had an engrossing battle against Robertson on the flank and had to curb his natural attacking instincts. However, he could not contain the Scotsman while failing to offer much going forward.
Arturo Vidal: 6/10
Getting a starting berth in the absence of Nicolo Barella, the Chilean was strong and aggressive in the middle of the park, going into challenges to disrupt Liverpool. However, he lacked that bit of quality and sharpness on the ball.
Marcelo Brozovic: 5.5/10
The Croatian midfielder was put under pressure by Liverpool, and he could not deal with their press, which curtailed his influence on the proceedings when he was in possession. Brozovic worked hard off the ball but lacked the quality to cause problems in the attacking half.
Hakan Calhanoglu: 7/10
We’ve reached halftime at San Siro. The closest chance for either team came here when Hakan Çalhanoglu hit the bar.
— Sidelines – Soccer ⚽ (@SSN_Futbol) February 16, 2022
One of Inter Milan’s most dangerous players on the night, Calhanoglu came the closest to scoring in the first half when he struck the bar. He continued to cause problems with his forward runs and created three chances as well, while he also put in the hard yards off the ball.
Ivan Perisic: 7/10
A lively display from the veteran Croat. He asked plenty of questions of Trent Alexander-Arnold on the night, getting into good positions out wide and delivering some teasing crosses into the box.
Edin Dzeko: 5/10
Not good enough from the veteran striker who failed to work Alisson, although he did not always have the best service. He did find the back of the net in the second half but had strayed offside.
Lautaro Martinez: 5/10
The Argentine looked in the mood when he fired a shot close to the goal early in the game. However, that is as good as it got for Martinez as he struggled to get into the game and hardly made any notable impact.
Lautaro Martinez has the most shot attempts in the Champions League (26).
He has 0 goals. pic.twitter.com/LhyQFAMolH
— Matchday365 (@Matchday365) February 16, 2022
SUBSTITUTES
Alexis Sanchez: 5/10
The Chilean came on for Lautaro Martinez in the 70th minute but had less than ten touches.
Roberto Gagliardini: N/A
The Italian replaced Vidal in the 87th minute.
Matteo Darmian: N/A
On for Dumfries in the 87th minute.
Andrea Ranocchia: N/A
He was sent on in place of de Vrij late in the game.
Federico Dimarco: N/A
Late substitute for Bastoni.
Liverpool
Alisson Becker: 6/10
The Liverpool shot-stopper was hardly called into action with Inter Milan not firing many shots on target. He was alert to collect crosses inside the box, while his range of distribution was also impressive.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 6/10
A rather restricted display from the England international who was put under pressure by Perisic, limiting his influence going forward. Alexander-Arnold still managed to whip in one or two dangerous crosses and had a part to play in the second goal.
Ibrahima Konate: 7.5/10
Brought into the lineup in place of Joel Matip, Konate put in a rock-solid display at San Siro. The former RB Leipzig man dealt with the threat of Dzeko and Martinez with ease, keeping his composure when the hosts mounted attacks. He made some crucial tackles and made it look easy.
Virgil van Dijk: 8/10
Virgil van Dijk vs. Inter Milan
94% Pass accuracy
7/8 Accurate long passes
5/7 Aerial duels won
7 Clearances
3 Interceptions
4 RecoveriesWe should probably just know by now. pic.twitter.com/B62AJxcH13
— The Tactical Times (@Tactical_Times) February 16, 2022
The Liverpool mainstay was top-notch on Wednesday night as he hardly let anything pass him. Virgil van Dijk read the game well and took up good positions to cut out attacks with ease while being assured with the ball at his feet. He ensured Dzeko and Martinez did not get a sniff of the goal and even played a role in Salah’s late strike.
Andrew Robertson: 7/10
The Scotsman provided a handy outlet down the right and created Liverpool’s best chance of the first half when he set Mane up with a brilliant cross, but the forward headed it over. Robertson got his assist in the second half when he delivered an inch-perfect cross from a corner for Firmino to head in.
Harvey Elliott: 5/10
A difficult outing for the teenager, who, at times, seemed overawed by the occasions. Elliott had a few good moments here and there but looked sluggish with his passing and was not tracking back effectively enough. He was taken off around the hour mark.
Fabinho: 6/10
The Brazilian enforcer battled hard, as usual, to try and help Liverpool win the midfield battle. However, he was guilty of not using possession cleverly while his passing radar seemed off. He was taken off early in the second period.
Thiago Alcantara: 7/10
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich superstar brought all his experience to the fore as he chose his moments to drop deep and defend or push forward and spray passes. He created a chance for Salah in the first half and came close to scoring himself. His influence did fade a bit towards the start of the first period, but he was lively again towards the end.
Mohamed Salah: 7/10
??????? @MoSalah record…
Goals in 8️⃣ consecutive #UCL away games.
????? ?????. pic.twitter.com/Xx9E8PzXTU
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 16, 2022
Not the best of nights for the Liverpool superstar, but he still posed a threat to Bastoni each time he found himself on the ball. Salah did not get many opportunities to have a go at the goal, but when he did get a chance late on, he did not let it go, making it 2-0.
Diogo Jota: 5/10
The Portuguese international stepped into the starting XI in place of Roberto Firmino but had a quiet first period during which he did little of note. Hooked off at half-time by the manager.
Sadio Mane: 6/10
The Senegalese speedster had a couple of good chances in the first period but could not score as he headed over from a Robertson cross and saw the other effort, a bicycle kick, hit the side-netting. Mane did trouble the Inter defence, but his influence waned as the game wore on.
SUBSTITUTES
Roberto Firmino: 7/10
GOOOAAAALLLLL LIVERPOOL
FIRMINO 76' 0-1 pic.twitter.com/P48P0bHRaO— GOAL06 (@GOAL061) February 16, 2022
He came on for Jota at the start of the second period. While the Brazilian was largely quiet in the opening exchanges, when his moment came, he made no mistake, producing a good glancing header to put Liverpool in front.
Jordan Henderson: 6/10
The Liverpool skipper replaced Fabinho at the hour mark and added a sense of composure in the middle of the park, which helped Liverpool regain control after a period of Inter’s dominance. He hardly gave the ball away.
Naby Keita: 6/10
Replaced Elliott in the 60th minute and added the steadiness that was missing in the middle of the park.
Luis Diaz: 6/10
On for Mane, Diaz livened things up in attack. Diaz caused some problems for Skriniar and had a shot blocked by the Inter Milan defender.
James Milner: N/A
Late sub for Thiago.
