Jurgen Klopp insists 'job not done' after Liverpool battle past Inter

Mohamed Salah continues fine form in 2-0 Champions League last-16 victory

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his side's second goal in their Champions League last-16 first-leg clash with Inter Milan at the San Siro Stadium on Wednesday, February 16, 2022. Getty

Liverpool's Mo Salah celebrates his goal. AP

Liverpool's Roberto Firmino scores his side's opening goal against Inter. AP

Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates after scoring his side's opener. AP

Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker collects a high ball watched by Inter's Lautaro Martinez. EPA

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool controls the ball. Getty

Liverpool's Sadio Mane battles with Inter Milan's Edin Dzeko. Reuters

Inter's Marcelo Brozovic passes under pressure from Liverpool's Harvey Elliott. AP

Liverpool's Harvey Elliott.

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp. Reuters

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah on the burst.

Inter's Denzel Dumfries challenges Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk. Reuters

Inter's Edin Dzeko is marshalled by Fabinho of Liverpool. Getty

Liverpool's Andrew Robertson clears the ball from Inter's Denzel Dumfries. AP

Inter's Milan Skriniar is hustled by Liverpool's Sadio Mane. AP

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold shoots against Inter. PA

Liverpool's Diogo Jota tries to bring the ball under control. PA

Sadio Mane of Liverpool attempts an overhead kick. Getty

Inter's Edin Dzeko is challenged by Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk. AP

Inter's Ivan Perisic tries a block as Liverpool's Sadio attempts an overhead kick. EPA

Liverpool's Fabinho and Inter's Hakan Calhanoglu tangle. EPA

Inter's Lautaro Martinez challenges Liverpool keeper Alisson. Reuters

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Inter's Arturo Vidal. EPA

Inter's Marcelo Brozovic challenges Liverpool's Roberto Firmino. AP

Liverpool's Jordan Henderson and Inter's Denzel Dumfries. Reuters

Liverpool's Luis Diaz reacts after missing a chance. AP

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said the 2-0 win over Inter Milan in their Champions League last-16 clash does not mean the job will get easier in the home leg.

The Reds were far from their best at the San Siro on Wednesday and required late goals from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah to seal victory.

"It is still dangerous," Klopp said. "It is only halftime. We don't feel like we are halfway through and can cruise. We will have to be ready for them again. Inter are a good side. I don't say 'job done, put your feet on the table' in the past so why should I think different about it now?

"They are a very physical team. They played real smart balls. They have this deep last line and in the beginning we did very well. I was not surprised – they are good. We know that. We have to be ready for the second half."

The goal that broke the deadlock came via a Firmino header from a corner - something Klopp insisted was not a fluke. "Peter Krawietz [one of Liverpool's coaches] and our analysts are responsible for that [a set piece goal]," Klopp added.

"We didn't have a lot of time to train but we trained set pieces yesterday. You cannot do it without intensity, so it is all credit to Pete and his boys."

Inter v Liverpool ratings

Salah had already scored in the San Siro against AC Milan in December and an eighth successive European away match with a goal took his tally to 10 in his last 12 Champions League appearances.

It puts him seven short of Steven Gerrard's club European record of 41 and just one away from equaling his best Champions League season on their run to the 2018 final.

It was also a night when Trent Alexander-Arnold lost his place in the Liverpool record books as the team’s youngest-ever Champions League player as Harvey Elliott was handed his first appearance in the competition at 18 years, 318 days.

Elliott played for the first 59 minutes, during which Liverpool were largely underwhelming and came closest to scoring when Sadio Mane headed over in the first half.

Inter suffered their first home defeat to an English side in European competition since March 2008, when they also lost to Liverpool in the Champions League (0-1), ending a six-game unbeaten run at home to English opposition.

Manager Simone Inzaghi felt things could have gone differently this time around.

"We don't have much hope now but we will go Anfield to play the best possible match and we will see," he said. "We knew that they were going to press us, but we also did it well and I think we deserved a different result."