Inter v Liverpool ratings: Perisic 7, Vidal 5; Salah 7, Van Dijk 8

Goals from Firmino and Salah seal victory for Reds in Champions League last-16 first leg

• 

  INTER RATINGS: Samir Handanovic - 5. The Slovenian might have anticipated Firmino’s header and seemed rooted to the spot. He had no chance for the second goal. Reuters

• 

  Milan Skriniar - 7. The Slovak made an important block from Diaz and was quick to cut out danger. He did not allow Mane space. EPA

• 

  Stefan de Vrij - 6. The Dutchman took a blow to the head which appeared to affect his game. Perhaps he should have cleared before the second goal. Replaced by Ranocchia with three minutes left. EPA

• 

  Alessandro Bastoni - 5. The Italian started shakily but improved and appeared composed until Firmino’s goal, when he lost the forward. He was taken off in stoppage time for Dimaraco. EPA

• 

  Denzil Dumfries - 5. The Dutchman produced a fine crossfield ball early in the second half and glanced a header wide from a corner. Inter needed more from him but Robertson kept him quiet. AFP

• 

  Arturo Vidal - 5. The Chilean made his presence felt but he favours brawn over brains. He needs to be better on the ball. He was replaced by Gagliardini with three minutes to go. EPA

• 

  Marcelo Brozovic - 6, The Croat did well to break up Liverpool attacks but was less effective in propelling Inter forward. He wasted a rare chance early in the second half. AFP

• 

  Hakan Calhanoglu - 5. The Turk was unlucky to hit the bar with a sharp shot in the first half but he was unable to carve out any more chances and lacked the wit to trouble the defence. EPA

• 

  Ivan Perisic - 7. The Croat got plenty of joy down the right and raced behind Alexander-Arnold. He clipped a shot just over the bar and was his team’s most dangerous player. Reuters

• 

  Lautaro Martinez - 4. The Argentinian whipped an early shot just wide but did not threaten afterwards. He left the game in the 70th minute when Sanchez came on. EPA

• 

  Edin Dzeko - 5. The Bosnian dropped deep to link play but it did not work. When he moved upfield, the 35-year-old slowed down the attack. EPA

• 

  SUBS: Alexis Sanchez - 5. The Chilean entered the game in the 70th minute for Martinez. He brought plenty of energy but no threat. AFP

• 

  Matteo Darmian - 6. The 32-year-old was given the last three minutes at the expense of Dumfries. He fired in one cross. Getty

• 

  Roberto Gagliardini - 5. The 27-year-old came on for Vidal in the 87th minute. It was a thankless task and he did not make an impact. AFP

• 

  Andrea Ranocchia - 5. Joined the action with three minutes to go for De Vrij. By that time the crowd were leaving and thoughts were turning to Anfield. AP

• 

  Federico Dimarco - 5. Replaced Bastoni in stoppage-time and was the last of a clutch of pointless Inter substitutions. Reuters

• 

  LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 6. The Brazilian is a reassuring presence for the defence but sometimes his confidence on the ball causes alarm and twice he caused the team to hold their breath. He was hardly troubled by the Inter attack. Getty

• 

  Trent Alexander-Arnold - 5. The 23-year-old was given a difficult time by Perisic and was pinned back. His distribution was not as precise as usual. PA

• 

  Ibrahima Konate - 7. The Frenchman appears ungainly at times but his blocks proved important when Inter threatened. He was wise enough to get out of Salah’s way for the second goal. Getty

• 

  Virgil van Dijk - 8. The Dutchman held his position when Dzeko dropped deep and gave the striker no room when he got forward. He was calm when Inter piled on the pressure. Getty

• 

  Andrew Robertson - 6. Inter limited the Scot’s production going forward but he pinged in the corner for the opening goal. He kept Dumfries out of the game. AP

• 

  Fabinho - 7. The Brazilian controlled the midfield in the first half but was over-run after the break. Even so, his substitution for Henderson in the 59th minute raised eyebrows. Getty

• 

  Thiago Alcantara - 6. The 30-year-old was influential before half time but was put on the back foot when Inter were on top. He made way for Milner with four minutes left. Getty

• 

  Harvey Elliott - 4. The 18-year-old showed his potential with a couple of deft touches but he never looked comfortable in a frantic midfield. He was taken off in the 59th minute for Keita but will improve for the experience. AP

• 

  Mohamed Salah - 7. Found space hard to come by against a swarming back line but kept at the job. His reward came with the second goal, when the massed ranks of defenders worked in his favour to unsight the goalkeeper. Getty

• 

  Diogo Jota - 5. The Portuguese saw plenty of the ball but was crowded out by the Inter defence. He made way for Firmino at the break. PA

• 

  Sadio Mane - 5. The Senegalese should have done better with a first-half header and his early promise evaporated. Diaz replaced him after 59 minutes. AP

• 

  SUBS: Roberto Firmino - 7. The Brazilian replaced Jota at the break and had not shown much before scoring the opening goal. His run and flicked header were superb. Getty

• 

  Jordan Henderson - 7. The 31-year-old joined the action in the 59th minute for Fabinho and immediately took the armband from Van Dijk. He showed his leadership with a series of sharp tackles. Getty

• 

  Naby Keita - 7. The Guinean came on for Elliott just before the hour and improved the midfield right away. He kept possession and harried the opposition. Reuters

• 

  Luis Diaz - 6. The Colombian entered the game for Mane in the 59th minute. He was bright and had a shot blocked. Getty

• 

  James Milner - 6. The 36-year-old was sent on for Thiago with four minutes left. This cameo was his 800th first-team appearance and he popped up in some advanced positions. Reuters

Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory at Inter Milan in their Champions League last-16 first leg on Wednesday thanks to late goals from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah.

Inter were better in the first-half, with Hakan Calhanoglu firing against the crossbar after being allowed too much time in the penalty area.

Liverpool struggled to create chances, forcing manager Jurgen Klopp to ring in the changes in the second half. Substitute Firmino broke the deadlock by flicking home from a corner in the 75th minute.

Thereafter, Liverpool asserted themselves and Salah pounced when Inter failed to clear a long ball into the box to end the contest seven minutes from time.

Even with the away goals rule no longer in force, victory puts the 2019 Champions League winners in control for the return leg on March 8 at Anfield.

“I think we both took a lot of risk in the pressing,” Van Dijk told CBS. “It’s about the hard fight, the battle when you have the ball - be brave, make the right decisions and keep it tight at the back.”

Player ratings from the match can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.