The Rossoneri were, however, virtually qualified for the round of 16 for ... seven minutes in the first period, after opening the scoring by Fikayo Tomori (29th) against the Reds (in yellow on Tuesday) largely overhauled.

English AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori opens the scoring at home against Liverpool on Matchday 6 of Group B of the Champions League on December 7, 2021 MIGUEL MEDINA AFP

But Mohamed Salah quickly equalized (36th) then Divock Origi punished an error by the same Tomori (55th) to extinguish the dream of the Milanese who, the last of their group, will not even be able to console themselves in the Europa League.

The Egyptian striker of Liverpool, Mohamed Salah (2nd g), surrounded by his teammates, after having equalized (1-1) against AC Milan, during the 6th day of group B of the Champions League, on the 7th December 2021 at San Siro Stadium MIGUEL MEDINA AFP

To be able to dream, it was already necessary for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his family to succeed in winning against the ogre Liverpool, sine qua non because of the three initial defeats in a very tough group.

Against an intractable Liverpool this season on the European scene, it was a challenge despite an English team deprived of many starters.

As he had announced because of the close matches, Jürgen Klopp had indeed turned very largely with only three of the holders of the first leg aligned from the start (goalkeeper Alisson and scorers Salah and Origi).

This did not prevent this Liverpool-bis from a long time mastering the debates, thanks to a greater physical impact.

Milan, where Messias Junior had started in an attempt to bring the "unpredictability" desired by Stefano Pioli, rarely found a way to unbalance the solid British bloc.

Salah, the great traveler

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, for his 150th European club match, also struggled to show off, closely watched by Frenchman Ibrahima Konaté.

It finally took a corner to allow Milan to believe it: Alisson was surprised by the returning shot from Junior Messias and could only return the ball to Tomori, author of his first goal in C1 (29th).

Milan was then qualified.

But it didn't take long for Salah to shatter hope.

The Egyptian appeared to take a ball that Mike Maignan could not capture on a strike from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (36th).

The Egyptian striker of Liverpool, Mohamed Salah equalizes (1-1) against AC Milan, during the 6th day of group B of the Champions League, on December 7, 2021 at the San Siro Stadium MIGUEL MEDINA AFP

With this seventh goal in six European matches, Salah confirms his taste for travel: he has scored in the last seven meetings away from the Reds in C1!

On resumption, Tomori went from dream to nightmare by missing a control which Liverpool took advantage of to equalize on a header from Origi, after a first stop by Maignan in front of Sadio Mané (55th).

This goal, combined with those of Atlético Madrid in Porto (3-1), returns Milan to last place.

The last half hour, too muddled despite some opportunities (Kessié, 85th), will not change anything.

The only good news for Stefano Pioli: the Rossoneri will now be able to devote themselves to Serie A, where they are in the lead.

It did not go badly last season at Inter Milan, champions in May after leaving Europe in December.

© 2021 AFP