Liverpool marched into the Round of 16 in style after they defeated Itlains side AC Milan 2-1 at the San Siro. Mohammad Salah and Divock Origi were the stars for the team from Merseyside as they cancelled the opener from Fikayo Tomori.
With this loss, Liverpool got 18 points from their six games while AC Milan finished bottom of the group crashing out of Europe altogether,
It was the Italians who opened the scoring in the 29th minute through Fikayo Tomori. A corner from the left side was missed by Takumi Minamino which left Alisson in a precarious position. The goalkeeper parried it away but only as far as Tomori who tapped the ball into the net.
The goal came against the run of play and jolted Liverpool into action as they looked for an immediate equaliser.
The first English club 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 to win all 6️⃣ games of a #UCL group phase!
THIS TEAM ❤ pic.twitter.com/bNOVskkDeu
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 7, 2021
SALAH AND ORIGI LEAD RED’S CHARGE
And the equaliser did arrive just seven minutes later.
Alex Oxlade Chamberlain went past three Milan defenders before shooting at the goalkeeper who could only parry the ball into the path of Salah who slotted the ball into the net to continue his impr3essove goal-scoring form.
With this goal, Salah became the first Liverpool player to score in five group games in a single CHampions league season.
From there on, the English side dominated the proceedings as they went 1-1 at half-time.
🔴 Liverpool become the 1st English side in history to win all 6 games in a Champions League group stage 👏#UCL pic.twitter.com/c4TcbHzoXr
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 7, 2021
The first chance for the second half also fell to Liverpool but Minamino fluffed his lines.
Five minutes later, Slah drew another save from the keeper.
But the team finally took the lead two minutes later, and it was again a parry from the goalkeeper that made the goal.
The goals scorer Tomori lost the ball on the edge of the penalty area to Sadio Mane whose shot was parried away to Origi who conjured up a smart header to score his second goal in as many matches.
⚽️ Origi
👏 Divock delivers 𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡!
🔴 Liverpool lead in Milan… #UCL pic.twitter.com/CULQYivN01
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 7, 2021
With Atletico Madrid leading 1-0 away to Porto, Milan were now staring at an exit from Europe altogether.
With the Italians getting desperate, coach Stefano Pioli threw on Ismaël Bennacer and Alexis Saelemaekers on the field.
Milan tried to equalise but where abysmal when it came to finishing.
Rade Krunic blasted the ball high before Origi had a couple of chances.
However, it seems as if everyone was lacking the finishing touch.
Chamberlain had a brilliant chance to add a third in the injury time but initiated enough pressure to make him blast his shot over the bar.
ATLETICO BEAT PORTO TO JOIN LIVERPOOL
In the other match in the group, Atletico Madrid defeated Porto 3-1 to qualify along with Liverpool while Porto go into the Europa League.
Antoine Griezman opened the scoring in the 56th minute but a red card to Yannick Carrasco out the game in the balance.
However, the team from Madir used all their experience over the years as Angel Correa and Rodrigo de Paul scored to put the match beyond the Portuguese team.
Porto did manage a consolation through Sergio Oliveira but by then it was too little too late.
