After 75 minutes of caution _ even tedium _ the quality and pressure from six-time European champion Liverpool eventually led to a win over Inter Milan.

Roberto Firmino drifted in near the far post to glance in a header from Andy Robertson. A set piece also produced the second goal in the 83rd minute after Virgil van Dijk nodded down from Trent Alexander-Arnold's free kick and Mohamed Salah was primed unmarked centrally to shoot low into the net.

Salah, who led Egypt to the African Nations Cup final earlier this month, has 23 goals to his name in all competitions so far this season, including seven in the Champions League. 

The late goals give Liverpool a crucial cushion to take back to Anfield for the second leg next month. Inter Milan didn't manage a single shot on target in the 90 minutes and now faces missing out on a first quarterfinal appearance since 2011 in European football's elite competition.

The night's other first leg produced a far tighter result with Bayern Munich needing a goal from Kingsley Coman in the 90th minute to recover a 1-1 draw at Salzburg.

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