Simone Inzaghi had said before the match that, in order to dream of a feat, it would be "important", and even "essential" to "score in the first period", something his team had failed to do despite very good chances. clean on the way.

He finally waited for the 61st and an uncrossed strike, as spontaneous as it was unstoppable, from Lautaro Martinez in the skylight of Alisson to be granted and for the match to switch to the passion of the great European evenings (0-1).

The only brilliance of the "Toro" which had been, until then, completely stifled by Virgil van Dijk, as on the first leg, and which had even missed a few seconds earlier a much easier action at the entrance of the 16 meters, facing the goal.

But this passion, probably too exacerbated, pushed Alexis Sanchez to commit an ugly gesture on Fabinho four minutes after the goal, which earned him a second yellow card (63rd), after having already left his crampons lying on Thiago's calf Alcantara at the very end of the first period.

But Inter's 1-0 was almost as misleading as Liverpool's 2-0 on the face of the game.

Apart from a free kick from Hakan Calhanoglu well boxed by Alisson (41st), the Italians had very few chances.

Inter midfielder Ivan Perisic (d) ahead of Reds striker Mohamed Salah, March 8, 2022 in Liverpool Paul ELLIS AFP

The Reds, on the other hand, must still wonder how they did not score in a match where they shot three times on the uprights: a header from Joel Matip from a corner which shattered on the bar (31st) , a goal that seemed ready, with the goalkeeper out of the cages, but which was refused by the left post to Mohamed Salah (52nd) and a sublime half-volley from the same Salah, served by Sadio Mané, who found the post right (76th).

A header from van Dijk deflected in extremis by Milan Skriniar (32nd) and a distant but perfectly brushed free kick from Trent Alexander-Arnold and which had touched the right corner of Samir Handanovic (45 + 5), would undoubtedly have deserved a better fate. also.

And what about the return of Arturo Vidal, in added time, to counter Luis Diaz who was five meters from goal!

Even if only the qualification is beautiful, the impressive series of 7 wins in a row for Liverpool in C1 this season comes to an end without damage to them.

The repeated efforts in recent weeks, in the chase to try to catch up with Manchester City in the league, and the intense 120-minute League Cup final against Chelsea, may be starting to leave their mark.

Reds striker Sadio Mané (c) between Inter players Arturo Vidal (g) and Alexis Sanchez, March 8, 2022 in Liverpool Paul ELLIS AFP

For Inter, the regrets are real and it's almost encouraging for a return to the European forefront.

The squandered chances in the first leg and the nagging question of what this confrontation with their playmaker Nicolo Barella would have been like, had he not been suspended, will no doubt haunt the minds of supporters for a long time, but make Liverpool doubt as it is already not given to everyone.

© 2022 AFP