Liverpool edge into Champions League quarters despite defeat to Inter

Liverpool’s English midfielder Jordan Henderson (R) and Liverpool’s Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk (L) react to their win in the tie on the pitch after the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Liverpool and Inter Milan at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on March 8, 2022. – Inter won the game 1-0, Liverpool won the tie 2-1 on aggregate. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Liverpool crept into a fourth Champions League quarter-final in five years despite a rare 1-0 defeat at Anfield to Inter Milan as the English giants progressed 2-1 on aggregate.

The Italian champions were unable to scale the mountain they had to climb after losing the first leg 2-0 at home three weeks ago despite Lautaro Martinez’s sensational strike into the top corner just after the hour mark.

Alexis Sanchez’s red card shortly afterwards punctured any Inter momentum and Liverpool comfortably held out with the extra man to take their place in the last eight.

Inter were left to rue conceding two late goals in Milan three weeks ago after they had enjoyed the better of the game for much of the first leg.

The Italian champions started with a thirst to make amends as they pinned the Reds back in the first half without seriously testing Alisson Becker bar a dangerous Hakan Calhanoglu free-kick that the Brazilian parried to safety.

Liverpool took half an hour to pose any sort of threat, but when they did, they again exposed a frailty in the Inter defence from set-pieces.

Roberto Firmino’s header from a corner broke the deadlock when the sides met at the San Siro.

Joel Matip was inches away from a repeat as his header crashed off the bar before, from the resulting corner, Virgil Van Dijk’s goalbound effort was deflected wide.

After a