Football News: Despite a rare 1-0 defeat at Anfield to Inter Milan on Tuesday, Mohamed Salah conceded Liverpool may have succumbed to complacency as they advanced to their fourth Champions League quarter-final in five years. Despite Lautaro Martinez’s spectacular shot into the top corner just after the hour mark, the Italian champions were unable to summit the mountain they had to climb after losing the first leg 2-0 at home three weeks ago. Inter’s momentum was quickly shattered by Alexis Sanchez’s red card, and Liverpool comfortably held on with the extra man despite suffering only their third defeat in 44 games in all competitions this season.
The Reds had been on a 12-game winning streak, keeping their prospects of completing an unprecedented quadruple of championships alive.
Jurgen Klopp’s side has progressed to the last eight of both the Champions League and the FA Cup, and have a game in hand to close Manchester City’s six-point advantage at the top of the Premier League.
Salah is hoping they can learn from an unusual lack of goals in front of goal, as they went scoreless for the fourth game this season.
“We lost the game, and maybe that will give us a boost,” added the Egyptian, who twice hit the post with excellent chances in the second half.
“Perhaps we were overconfident in the back of our thoughts. It’s an excellent game from which we may learn.”
After having the best of the game for much of the first leg, Inter were left to repent losing two late goals in Milan three weeks ago.
“For the first time in ten years, we’ve arrived at this point. We played against the best team in Europe at the time and were on the same footing with them “Inter’s manager, Simone Inzaghi, admitted as much.
“Sometimes all it takes is a single episode to turn a game around.”
The Italian champions dominated the first half, but Liverpool had the better chances, with Joel Matip’s header hitting the crossbar and Virgil Van Dijk’s goalbound shot deflected wide from the subsequent corner.
After a quiet first 45 minutes, Klopp pumped his team up before halftime, and Salah should have given Liverpool the lead minutes later when he flicked a loose ball inside the box onto the post.
Martinez appeared to have squandered a chance to pull Inter back into the game when he pulled a shot wide from the outskirts of the box.
On 62 minutes, however, the Argentine made amends with a magnificent strike into the top corner from outside the area.
Inter’s pleasure lasted only a minute until Sanchez’s indiscipline reduced them to ten men.
The Chilean was fortunate to only receive a yellow card for a risky lunge on Thiago Alcantara just before half-time, but he then dived in on Fabinho, earning a second yellow card.
Salah hit the post once more 15 minutes from time, and Luis Diaz was prevented only by an unbelievable block from Arturo Vidal in stoppage time as Liverpool failed to convert their numerical advantage.
“I think over the two legs it is completely fine they won one, we won one, and we are through,” said Klopp. “We could have done better against an opponent who makes life really uncomfortable.”
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