---
title: "Opinion: Rating Liverpool’s star performers in crucial UCL victory"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/opinion-rating-liverpools-star-performers-in-crucial-ucl-victory/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2022-02-17T07:00:00Z"
modified: "2022-02-17T07:00:00Z"
---

# Opinion: Rating Liverpool’s star performers in crucial UCL victory

[Liverpool](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2022/02/17/pundit-lauds-excellent-ace-as-liverpool-overcome-inter-milan-in-ucl/) came away from a difficult night’s work in the San Siro with a superb 2-0 victory over Inter Milan.

The Reds now have a [healthy advantage](https://www.skysports.com/football/inter-vs-liverpool/report/461091) over their Italian counterparts for the second leg at Anfield.

But, it wasn’t all plain sailing for the visitors as the hosts [took the game to Jurgen Klopp’s side](https://twitter.com/SquawkaNews/status/1494070326359113728) at times.

> Shots: 9-13\
> Shots on target: 0-2\
> Possession: 46%-54%\
> Corners: 7-7[#UCL](https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/5uEHnasuTX](https://t.co/5uEHnasuTX)
>
> — Squawka Live (@Squawka\_Live) [February 16, 2022](https://twitter.com/Squawka_Live/status/1494070326359113728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

After the match, Klopp [insisted](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10521247/Jurgen-Klopp-insists-Liverpools-tie-Inter-Milan-dangerous-despite-two-goal-advantage.html) that Inter were still ‘dangerous’ in the tie despite the two-goal lead to take back to Merseyside.

The German boss [admitted](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/klopp-jota-injury-liverpool-inter-26251412) concern over the injury suffered to Diogo Jota after the Portuguese forward had to be replaced: “Diogo had to go off with something around the ankle ligament, we will see. At half-time the ankle was swollen and we had to change.”

Pundits saw fit to [laud Ibrahima Konate](https://twitter.com/Carra23/status/1494072117851213828) in particular as Jason Cundy claimed that Liverpool and Manchester City were [‘miles ahead’](https://readliverpoolfc.com/) of the rest of Europe at present.

But who were the best on show…

### READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT

**XI**: Alisson 7; Trent Alexander-Arnold 7, Ibrahima Konate 8, Virgil van Dijk 8.5, Andy Robertson 8; Fabinho 8, Harvey Elliott 6, Thiago 7; Mohamed Salah 7.5, Sadio Mane 7, Diogo Jota 6.

**Subs**: Roberto Firmino 7, [Jordan Henderson](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2022/02/15/virals-jurgen-klopp-has-confirmed-jordan-henderson-is-fine-for-ucl-clash/) 8, Naby Keita 7.5, Luis Diaz 8, James Milner NA.

An [outstanding result](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60393296) with some sublime performances, especially from the bench.

Liverpool were undoubtedly under the cosh when Klopp made the triple change midway through the second-half and each arrival had a [positive impact](https://www.sofascore.com/player/jordan-henderson/42694) on proceedings.

For now at least, attention can turn back to domestic matters as the Reds [welcome Norwich City](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/match/2021-22/men/fixtures-and-results) to Anfield.