Liverpool v Internazionale Live Commentary & Result, 8/3/22, UEFA Champions League

That's all from Anfield today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!

Liverpool lose a home match for the first time since their Premier League defeat against Fulham in March 2021 - going unbeaten in 28 home matches since then - but travel on to Brighton at the weekend with their quadruple hopes still very much alive. Inter, meanwhile, must return their attention to domestic concerns - having already claimed the Suppercoppa, they are still in contention for a league and cup double.

Despite Inter's best efforts, they slip out of the Champions League, with Liverpool progressing to the quarter-finals even though they were beaten on the day. A rare home loss for the Premier League side could have turned out very differently had they not spurned several chances which hit the goalframe - but it is Martinez's superb strike which decides the match, if not the tie. Undoubtedly, Sanchez's subsequent red card quickly put a stop to the Nerazzurri's revival, and their hosts go through to the final eight once again.

90' + 6' FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 0-1 INTER

R. Gagliardini

Yellow Card

90' + 4' Having raised his studs in a challenge with Alexander-Arnold, now Gagliardini joins the long list of bookings.

90' + 2' GREAT BLOCK! With an incredible sliding block, Vidal denies Diaz at close range, when the Liverpool winger only had to steer the ball home from inside the area, with Handanovic beaten. If Inter can produce a miracle to equalise, that could be a crucial moment.

89' It is Liverpool who look likeliest to score, if anyone, as they earn another corner and then Salah fires a shot wide from the left side of the area.

88' The hosts have a corner, and Inter are struggling to get out of their own half.

A. Bastoni

Yellow Card

85' For a late tackle on Salah, Bastoni becomes the latest name taken by the referee.

M. Vecino

H. Çalhanoğlu

83' Calhanoglu is now taken off by Inzaghi, who replaces him with Vecino.

L. Díaz

Diogo Jota

83' The hosts make a change in attack, as Jota is substituted and Diaz takes his place up front.

81' Liverpool have increased their possession share to 65 per cent during this second half, and with nine shots to Inter's two, can consider themselves unfortunate to be behind. They still lead on aggregate, though, with the clock ticking down.

79' Neither being the type of character to back down easily, Perisic and Henderson clash twice by the touchline. Since both Sanchez and a member of the Inter coaching staff were sent off, the visitors have been increasingly aggressive.

77' OFF THE POST! Once again, Salah strikes the woodwork, as his attempt from inside the area thumps against the base of Handanovic's right-hand post. After Mane's perfect pass, he really should have scored!

J. Correa

Lautaro Martínez

75' Despite his earlier wonderstrike, Martinez makes way for his compatriot Correa up front.

M. Darmian

D. Dumfries

75' Inzaghi also swaps Dumfries for Darmian at wing-back.

R. Gagliardini

M. Brozović

75' The injured Brozovic is replaced by Gagliardini in Inter's midfield.

72' An outswinging Robertson corner is punched clear of danger by Handanovic, but Inter really need play to switch to the other end.

S. Mané

Yellow Card

70' Bastoni is brought down by Mane, who is shown a yellow card by the referee. It has not been a spiteful encounter, but neither side has been afraid to throw themselves into a challenge.

69' It looks like Brozovic has picked up a knock, and though he eventually continues after spending some time down on the turf, he is not moving freely.

67' With time running out, and now at a man's disadvantage, Inter look to be readying some more changes. This will be Inzaghi's last roll of the dice.

J. Henderson

Thiago Alcântara

65' After being crudely challenged by Sanchez, now Thiago makes way for Henderson.

N. Keïta

C. Jones

65' Jurgen Klopp has responded to the Inter goal by replacing Jones with Keita in midfield.

63' INTER DOWN TO 10! Within moments of hauling themselves back into the tie, Sanchez lunges recklessly into a challenge with Thiago, earning himself a second booking. The former Manchester United man is sent off at Anfield!

Lautaro Martínez

Goal

61' INTER LEAD! This tie is back in the balance! Martinez makes light of his quiet showing so far, taking a couple of touches to position himself on the left corner of the box before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner. What a strike! Liverpool 0-1 Inter, and now only 2-1 on aggregate!

A. Sánchez

Assist

61' Having been the livelier of Inter's front pairing, Sanchez played in his partner Martinez to strike from distance.

61' Inter spurn another half-chance, as D'Ambrosio fires wildly over from the edge of the box - he was off balance and couldn't control it.

60' JUST WIDE! With his first real opening of the match, Martinez steers a low effort narrowly wide of Alisson's right-hand post.

58' Finally, Perisic manages to break free on the left, quickly switching the ball into the centre for Calhanoglu to strike from 20 yards - Matip makes a good block, though.

56' Inter manage to play through Liverpool's high press, but Martinez cannot evade the attentions of Van Dijk as he tries to mount a counter-attack. The Inter forward has failed to make any kind of impact on this game so far.

54' The Anfield crowd have been roused by their team's burst of attacking intent, as a brief bright spell for Inter starts to dim. The Nerazzurri are chasing shadows at the moment, when they really need to be seizing the initiative.

51' OFF THE POST! Salah strikes the frame of the Inter goal, after a delightful lofted ball by Thiago picks out Jota, and the Portuguese forward's attempt breaks into his path 10 yards from goal. Liverpool are really turning the screw here - a goal would surely end the tie.

49' After a Salah run into the box troubles the Inter defence, Liverpool continue to apply pressure, and the visitors are forced to clear with headers following crosses from either full-back.

A. Robertson

Yellow Card

47' Robertson picks up a booking early in the second half, as he brings down Dumfries in his own half.

D. D'Ambrosio

S. de Vrij

46' Inzaghi has chosen to replace De Vrij with D'Ambrosio in a change to his back three. It remains to be seen whether that will entail a change of shape.

46' We are back under way at Anfield, and Inter have made a change to their defensive lineup.

Though they have no real reason to press forward for a winner today, Liverpool have won each and every one of their Champions League fixtures so far this season, and could become just the third team in history to win their opening eight games of Europe's elite competition by beating Inter. In any case, as things stand, they are heading into the last eight as one of the favourites to lift the continent's most coveted trophy.

Though the Inter crossbar took a serious rattling from Matip's header, neither side has been able to carve open the other with any regularity - playing into Liverpool's hands, as they can even afford to lose 1-0 and progress to the quarter-finals. Matching their bright display at San Siro, the visitors have fared well in midfield, but must find an extra gear in the final third if they are to mount an unlikely comeback. They have certainly got nothing to lose, so will they throw caution to the wind after the break?

45' + 7' HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 0-0 INTER

45' + 7' CLOSE! From the free-kick, Alexander-Arnold strokes an attempt at goal just over the angle of post and crossbar, with Handanovic struggling to get across to cover. That will be the final act of the half.

A. Vidal

Yellow Card

45' + 6' Chasing back to cover, Vidal chops down Jones just over 20 yards from goal and becomes the latest man into the book.

A. Sánchez

Yellow Card

45' + 4' A late challenge by Sanchez, with his boot raised, catches Thiago on the leg. That will be a booking for the Inter forward.

45' + 2' The tempo has dropped during the second of five indicated stoppage-time minutes, and both sides seem content to settle for a stalemate heading in at half-time.

45' After receiving treatment following Calhanoglu's challenge, Jones is able to return to the fray, and the game goes on.

43' Jones makes a surging run towards the Inter area, exchanges a quick pass with Salah, but then finds his toe clipped by Calhanoglu as he races onto the return. However, the referee is disinterested in the young midfielder's claims for a free-kick.

41' SAVE! Calhanoglu tries to catch Alisson out with a low free-kick towards the far post, which the Brazilian international is quick to parry away to safety.

Diogo Jota

Yellow Card

40' Jota is the first man into the referee's notebook, as he receives a yellow card for bringing down Skriniar with a clumsy challenge from behind.

38' Another Inter counter is brought to a halt, as Liverpool's offside trap catches out Sanchez - the Chilean forward is half a yard past the final defender when the ball was played.

36' Robertson gets across well to cover a run by Vidal, who is close to delivering a cross from the right. Inter have a corner, which Calhanoglu takes - requiring Van Dijk to make a relatively rugged clearance from deep inside his own area.

34' Following the stoppage in play, Liverpool have seized the momentum, and Inter's midfield are penned several yards further back inside their own half.

32' BLOCK! Skriniar saves the day for Inter, somehow intervening in time to stop Van Dijk's goalbound header beating Handanovic. The visitors have escaped again, and they simply cannot afford to concede even a single goal today.

30' OFF THE BAR! A brilliant whipped free-kick from the right by Alexander-Arnold picks out Matip in the centre of the area, and the tall centre-back plants a powerful header against the crossbar, which then bounces down and away to relative safety. So close to an opening goal for Liverpool!

28' Fans and players applaud the medics who have been dealing with the situation in the stands, as the referee signals the re-start of play.

26' The players are milling about and trying to keep themselves warmed up on a blustery day at Anfield, and the game will shortly get back under way.

24' There is a pause in the action, as someone in the crowd is in need of urgent medical attention. Both sides are now huddled on the touchline, receiving instruction from their respective coaches.

22' Having reached the midpoint of the first half without conceding, since the start of the 2017-18 season, Liverpool have kept more clean sheets in Champions League home games than any other team (15 in 24).

19' Perisic is penalised for a foul on Salah, and their duel today is set to be a fascinating one - both prefer to raid forward, so there will surely be gaps to exploit on either side.

17' Inter continue to press on in search of an opening goal, with the Anfield crowd somewhat quietened by their progress. Before last Friday's five-goal haul against Serie A's bottom side, the Nerazzurri had failed to score since the first leg, so actually finding the net may not be straightforward.

15' An outswinging corner by Alexander-Arnold drops onto the head of Van Dijk on the edge of the area, but his headed effort lacks power and is easily fielded by Handanovic in the Inter goal.

12' Robertson brings down Dumfries, and Inter are awarded a free-kick. The away side are applying some pressure to the Liverpool defence, and look set to compete hard to make an improbable comeback.

10' Ahead of today's game, Liverpool had won each of their three games against Inter in the Champions League without conceding a single goal - all three coming at the last 16 stage of the competition. Meanwhile, the Italian champions have lost four of their previous five away games against English clubs.

8' Mane gets the better of Dumfries, slotting a ball into the channel between Inter's back three and wing-backs for Robertson to receive. The Scotland captain's cross is blocked behind for a corner, which the visitors are ultimately able to clear safely.

6' For the first time today, Alisson is required to make a routine save, after Robertson can't fully clear a cross from the left and Dumfries picks up the ball on the edge of the box. He fails to get fully over his volley, which spins harmlessly into the goalkeeper's gloves.

4' Matip clears twice inside the area following a Dumfries cross from the right flank, as the visitors make a positive start - they need to score at least twice, so have little choice.

2' As Inter make progress down the left, through Perisic, the alert Alexander-Arnold covers across to stop a cross coming into the box, and does so without even conceding a corner.

1' With a place in the last eight at stake, Inter get us under way in Liverpool!

Following a rousing rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone', both teams are out on the pitch at Anfield, with kick-off just moments away!

While Inter make just one change to the XI that started three weeks ago - Dzeko dropping to the bench, with Sanchez taking his place up front - they are still without influential midfielder Nicolo Barella through suspension. Vidal is his replacement in Simone Inzaghi's usual central trio, while former Atalanta wing-back Gosens now features on the bench, having recently returned to action following a long injury layoff.

Making four changes to the side that started against West Ham at the weekend, Liverpool recall Thiago and Matip following injury and illness respectively, while Jones is a surprise inclusion in midfield and Jota starts up front. Therefore, Henderson, Keita and Diaz are demoted to the bench, while Ibrahima Konate misses out entirely.

SUBS: Ionut Radu, Alex Cordaz, Matias Vecino, Matteo Darmian, Edin Dzeko, Danilo D'Ambrosio, Joaquin Correa, Robin Gosens, Andrea Ranocchia, Federico Dimarco, Felipe Caicedo, Roberto Gagliardini.

INTER (3-5-2): Samir Handanovic; Stefan de Vrij, Milan Skriniar, Alessandro Bastoni; Denzel Dumfries, Marcelo Brozovic, Arturo Vidal, Hakan Calhanoglu, Ivan Perisic; Alexis Sanchez, Lautaro Martinez.

SUBS: Caoimhin Kelleher, Adrian, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Luis Diaz, James Milner, Konstantinos Tsimikas, Takumi Minamino, Joe Gomez, Naby Keita, Divock Origi, Harvey Elliot.

LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip, Andrew Robertson; Thiago Alcantara, Fabinho, Curtis Jones; Diogo Jota, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah.

After enduring a four-game run without either a win or a goal, Inter finally ended their drought in both regards last Friday, as they slayed Serie A whipping boys Salernitana 5-0 and stayed in touch with their closest rivals in pursuit of a second successive Scudetto. The reigning champions have improved significantly on the domestic scene over recent times, but not since 2011 have Inter managed to make it as far as the last eight in the Champions League. Their task is a tall one today: only one team in the competition's history has ever come back from a two-goal deficit in the first leg at home to advance.

Liverpool's 2-0 advantage from the first leg in Milan sees them welcome Inter to Anfield with one foot in the quarter-finals of this year's Champions League. Though the away goals rule no longer applies, victory at San Siro for Jurgen Klopp's side leaves the Italian champions on the brink of elimination. With the EFL Cup already won, the Reds' quadruple dream remains alive, and a narrow victory over West Ham United at the weekend marked their 12th win on the spin in all competitions. Today, they could become the first English team ever to win their opening eight matches of a Champions League campaign.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's Champions League last 16 second leg clash between Liverpool and Inter at Anfield!

Liverpool v Internazionale Live Commentary, 9/3/22

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