UCL: Liverpool, Tottenham reach knockout phase at expense of Italian teams

December 12

06:38 2018

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It was joy for England and despair for Italy as Premiership clubs, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, did the needful to advance into the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League at the expense of Serie A’s Napoli and Inter Milan.

Liverpool, needing to win by a lone goal and keep a clean sheet to qualify, defeated Napoli 1-0 thanks to Mohamed Salah’s first half goal. Tottenham needed to match Inter Milan’s result on the night to qualify, and a 1-1 scoreline for both clubs in their respective matches ensured London delight and Milan despair.

In-form Egyptian striker, Salah, has looked like conjuring some of the form that got him compared to Lionel Messi last season in recent weeks. He netted the winner on 34 minutes, beating Napoli keeper, David Ospina, at his near post.

Anfield delivered the perfect scene on another historical European night in which The Kop’s newfound defensive steel was evident, with £75million defender Virgil van Dijk limiting Napoli’s attack to only three opportunities.

The only real danger from Napoli came deep into second half’s injury time when striker, Arkadiusz Milik, was through on goal, but £68 million keeper, Alisson Becker, came off his line to smother the opportunity.

The win took Liverpool to nine points, same as Napoli, but finished ahead of the Italians based on a better head-to-head record.

Tottenham Hotspur also ensured all four English teams will be in the knockout rounds, earning a 1-1 against a weakened Barcelona at Camp Nou, and with Inter Milan only managing a similar result at home to PSV, the English side took the second spot in Group B.

Ousmane Dembele’s solo goal gave Messi-less Barcelona the lead early in the first half. The France international striker robbed the ball off Kyle Walker-Peters on the halfway line and bore down on goal, evading the challenge of Harry Winks before sliding the ball into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

The North London club was undeterred by the setback and dominated the game afterwards, denied only by the several saves from backup keeper, Jasper Cillessen, who made brilliant stops from Heung-Min Son, Harry Kane and Lucas Moura to preserve Barca’s lead.

The Catalans’ defence finally gave way five minutes from time as Moura’s header from Kane’s cross found the back of the net.

Both Tottenham and Inter finished with eight points but Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs have a better head-to-head record.

In other matches, PSG won 4-1 at Red Star Belgrade with their star forward line of Neymar Jr., Kylian Mbappe and Edison Cavani all scoring a goal each. Atlético Madrid could only draw 0-0 at Club Brugge to finish second in Group A behind Borussia Dortmund who sealed top spot with a 2-0 win at Monaco.