Despite a loss in their backyard, Liverpool qualifies for the quarters of UCL

A 1-0 win over Liverpool couldn’t help as Inter bows out of the Champions League. At Anfield, the atmosphere was as electric as it could have been and despite all the odds, Inter managed to get the win but that couldn’t inspire them to get another and eventually get closer to the quarters.

After no goals in the first half, Inter came heavily in the second half and scored the much needed goal. Lautaro Martinez’s strike in the 62nd minute gave Inter the push to go for another but a red card to Alexis Sanchez ruined everything for the Italian club.

The red card was very unfortunate as Sanchez got the ball but also caught Fabinho in the process. Sanchez, who was already on a yellow card, couldn’t save himself as he was shown the red and the Inter dugout was furious seeing that happen.

Nevertheless, Inter pushed but with 10-man against Liverpool at Anfield, it was indeed a mountain to climb for Inter. “Lautaro's goal had hit Liverpool, but Sanchez's expulsion influenced the last half hour of play. A victory at Anfield it's nice, but it's useless for the qualification”, said Simone Inzaghi after the match.

It is not that Liverpool was outplayed in this match. Mohammed Salah’s shot hit the post in the second half of the match while Luis Diaz’s shot was cleared off the line by Arturo Vidal in the dying moments of the match. Jurgen Klopp pushed for a draw if not a win but failed to beat Inter’s resistance in the defence.

In the post match conference, the Liverpool manager said, “The art of football is to lose the right games. I still hate it, but if there's any game we could afford to lose it was tonight. Over the two games I think we deserved it. It is fair that we are through against a tough opponent”.