Five talking points as ruthless Reds take control of last-16 tie
Though the Reds were second best for much of the entertaining first leg in Italy, they did the needful at San Siro
Brazil forward Roberto Firmino came off the bench to score the opening goal and Mohamed Salah doubled the lead to give Liverpool a commanding lead in their Champions League tie
The Reds were second best for much of the entertaining first leg in Italy but weathered a flurry of Inter attacks in the second half before striking with 15 minutes remaining.
Firmino, introduced by Jurgen Klopp in place of Diogo Jota at half-time, glanced Andy Robertson's corner beyond Samir Handandovic.
Eight minutes later, Mohamed Salah pounced on a loose ball in the Inter area and his low effort took a wicked deflection past the helpless Nerazzurri goalkeeper.
The result means Liverpool will take a considerable advantage into the second leg at Anfield on 8 March.
Here are five talking points from San Siro.
- A taste of their own medicine
Liverpool are accustomed to setting the tempo in matches after years spent perfecting the art of the high press under Jurgen Klopp.
But they found themselves making uncharacteristic errors as their hosts harried them relentlessly during the first half at San Siro.
The Reds struggled to play out from the back with their regular fluency in the face of the Inter press, which was the product of Simone Inzaghi refusing to deviate from his regular style.
At one point, Klopp stormed into his technical area to bellow at Andy Robertson after the left-back gave the ball away twice in quick succession.
The Nerazzurri - who, in contrast, shifted the ball with precision - went closest in the first half as Hakan Calhanoglu struck the bar from the left of the area, while Lautaro Martinez also rifled wide from outside the box and Milan Skriniar nodded a corner past the post.
- Mane's glaring miss
Although Liverpool were by no means at their best during the first half, they threatened whenever they broke on their hosts and racked up a multitude of shots - but none of these tested Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.
Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold were, as ever, at the centre of Liverpool's creativity, while a progressive midfield containing Harvey Elliott and Thiago complemented Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane in attack.
The pick of the chances fell to Mane, who should have opened the scoring when meeting a sublime Andy Robertson delivery but could only head over the bar.
The Senegalese forward also found the side netting with an acrobatic effort while Jota forced Milan Skriniar and Stefan de Vrij into a last-ditch block with a powerful effort from just inside the area.
- 3. Klopp's changes do the damage
It is fairly rare for Jurgen Klopp to make a half-time substitution, but he opted for a change of No. 9 midway through proceedings by sending on Roberto Firmino in place of Diogo Jota.
It remains to be seen whether Jota needed to be taken off having been short of fitness at the weekend, but, crucially the attacking change led to Liverpool's winner.
Firmino rose at the near post to glance Andy Robertson's corner into the far post with what was the game's first shot on target in 20 efforts.
The Reds' breakthrough came after a period of Inter Milan domination which saw the host’s fashion many opportunities, one of which saw Lautaro Martinez narrowly miss Ivan Perisic's cross.
Klopp had made three more changes just seconds earlier, with Naby Keita, Jordan Henderson and Luis Diaz introduced for Harvey Elliott, Fabinho and Sadio Mane.
Diaz, a £50million January signing, was one of the brighter players in the second half and forced a block from Milan Skriniar after combining with Trent Alexander-Arnold.
But, not for the first time, it was Firmino who made the difference for Liverpool in the Champions League.
- Impervious Van Dijk
Jurgen Klopp declared Virgil van Dijk is back to his best after Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Burnley on Sunday, and the Dutchman proved it once again in the Lombardy capital.
Van Dijk was hugely impressive against Inter Milan's strike partnership of Lautaro Martinez and Edin Dzeko, positioning himself to snuff out the danger and using his remarkable recovery pace to
During Liverpool's spell under the cosh early in the second half, the 30-year-old was seen bellowing to his teammates, urging them to raise their level and caulk the gap between defence and midfield.
Van Dijk was paired with Ibrahima Konate rather than Joel Matip at centre-back as Jurgen Klopp and the Frenchman made a number of important interventions including a fine block to repel Ivan Perisic's effort just before the hour mark.
- Elliott's European debut
Harvey Elliott enjoyed a "fairytale" return to action at the start of February after almost five months out with a major ankle injury.
The 18-year-old scored his first senior goal in the FA Cup victory over Cardiff to remind fans of his vast potential, and Jurgen Klopp opted to hand him his Champions League debut against Inter Milan.
Elliott - who was deployed in central midfield - combined with Mohamed Salah seamlessly on the right flank, but struggled to make a profound impact on the match.
The Englishman was one of those to make way as Klopp shuffled his pack in the 59th minute in search of the midfield control which evaded his side.
Elliott will hope for another opportunity in the second leg, but his manager may favour a more physical option to combat the likes of Arturo Vidal and Marcelo Brozovic.
