Clumsy Liverpool Side Advance To The UCL Quarter-final Despite Defeat At Anfield Against Inter Milan.

Liverpool suffered defeat for the first time this year (2022), but still progressed to the last eight of the Champions League on aggregate against Inter Milan.

A bitty first half of the 2nd-leg Last-16 tie which went down at Anfield was briefly halted by referee Antonio Mateu due to a medical emergency in the crowd.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp was  seen alerting the referee to an incident involving a fan in the Kop during the first half, with medics runninginto the stands.

Players from both sides took drinks on the sidelines and the match was quickly resumed after a brief stoppage.

The Reds weren’t at their best on the night, despite heading into the game protecting a two-goal lead from the first leg at San Siro three weeks ago, where Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino had struck in two late goals to win the game.

Inter Milan came to Anfield as the Italian champions, and arguably started a little better, pressing Liverpool’s midfield trio of Curtis Jones, Thiago and Fabinho.

Five minutes into the second half, Mohamed Salah looked destined to open the scoring, but after following up on a Diogo Jota effort, he could only hit the post.

Martinez missed a wonderful chance to open the scoring, but made up for it a couple of minutes later as he arrowed a shot into Allison's top corner to give Inter the lead on the night.

The Argentine's second half stunner ensured Inter were the victors on the night handing Liverpool a first defeat in 15 matches, but it wasn't enough for Inter, as the Reds move on 2-1 over the two legs.

Alexis Sanchez red card played a major part as Inter could have dragged the game into extra-time.

The former Arsenal and Man United striker returned to Anfield looking to reverse a wretched run of form in his six seasons in English football, but was sent off after picking up his second yellow card for a clumsy tackle on Fabinho.

Booked in first half added time for a foul on Thiago Alcantara, the 33-year-old probably should have seen red for that, but just minutes after his strike partner Martinez had put Inter in front, Sanchez lunged into another tackle, picking up a deserved second yellow.

Despite a prolonged Italian protestations, Sanchez eventually left the field, leaving his side to finish the game with 10-men, and tarnished every hopes of an unlikely turnaround.

Liverpool's boss Jurgen Klopp on if the Sanchez red card was deserved: "I don't understand why we have to discuss that? He's flying in and can't stop hitting Fab in a bad way. It was lucky he didn't get a red card in the first half for the one on Thiago."

Speaking after the defeat at Anfield, Klopp said;

"The first 20mins I didn't like too much our counter-press. The game was more exciting than we wanted.

"What I didn't like was the counter press wasn't really there. We were around challenges but not in challenges.

"Without playing brilliant, we had a lot of clear-cut chances. They didn't have that many, but they scored. I think over the two legs, it's fair that they won one, we won one, and we're through.

"I'm glad we don't face Inter every week, they are a very tricky opponents. They are fighters, they are warriors"

Liverpool are still competing in three competitions this season,h already clinched the first major honour of the season by edging out Chelsea via penalties in February's Carabao Cup final.

They look to build on their Carabao Cup triumph by adding the Premier League which is set to go down to the wire, the Champions League and FA Cup titles.

Already into the Champions League quarter-finals for the fourth time in the last five seasons, the Reds will have to wait to find out their last-eight opponents, when the quarter-finals and semi-finals draws will be made at the UEFA's headquarters in Nyon on Friday March 18.

The only team also through so far is Bayern Munich, who comfortably beat Salzburg 8-2 on aggregate. The other last-16 ties take place on Wednesday, and next week.

There is no country protection in the quarters onwards, meaning a potential meeting with a fellow English side is a potential.