Liverpool claimed a vital Champions League victory at the San Siro as Dominik Szoboszlai’s 88th-minute penalty secured a 1-0 win over Inter Milan on a tense night overshadowed by off-field drama surrounding Mohamed Salah. Arne Slot’s side, bruised by a turbulent fortnight and a run of nine defeats in 12, delivered a dogged and disciplined performance to climb into the top eight of the league phase.
Much of the pre-match narrative centred on Salah’s exclusion from the squad. The Egyptian forward remained in Liverpool after publicly accusing the club of having “thrown him under the bus”, adding to the scrutiny already on Slot. Yet in his absence, the visitors displayed the unity and resilience that had been sorely lacking in recent weeks.
The winner arrived late, and in controversial fashion. Florian Wirtz—introduced for the limping Alexander Isak—went down under a tug from Alessandro Bastoni, prompting a lengthy consultation between referee Felix Zwayer and the VAR team. Despite vociferous protests from the home crowd and Inter’s players, the penalty was awarded. Szoboszlai, calm under pressure, drilled his effort with enough power to beat Yann Sommer, who correctly guessed the direction but could not keep it out.
It was a moment the Hungarian had earned. Throughout a frenetic contest, he led Liverpool’s midfield aggression, pressing relentlessly and testing Sommer with a fierce first-half strike. The penalty marked his second goal in as many games and capped a polished display that earned him the player-of-the-match award.
Liverpool had earlier thought they had taken the lead when Ibrahima Konaté headed home from close range after a set-piece. However, VAR intervened once more, ruling that the ball had struck the arm of Hugo Ekitike in the build-up. The decision came after an extended review that frustrated both sets of supporters, but the call proved correct under current interpretations.
Despite the disappointment, Liverpool responded strongly and ended the first half on top. Curtis Jones orchestrated the midfield in Slot’s new 4-1-2-1-2 diamond system, with the tempo of the visitors’ passing a notable improvement. Ekitike’s energy stretched Inter’s defence, though Isak struggled physically against Francesco Acerbi and Matteo Darmian before eventually limping off.
Inter, who began the night unbeaten in 19 home Champions League matches dating back to 2022, were gradually stirred into action. Nicolò Barella shaved the upright with a bending free-kick, while Lautaro Martínez forced Alisson Becker into a smart save from a close-range header. But injuries to Piotr Zieliński and Yann Aurel Bisseck disrupted their rhythm, and the hosts lost momentum as the second half progressed.
Slot’s Liverpool have been criticised recently for their defensive fragility, but this display showed a renewed structure and discipline. Virgil van Dijk marshalled his back line with authority, while Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold provided balance without recklessness. Even as Inter pushed late on, Liverpool’s shape held firm.
The result could prove significant beyond the three points. With Salah’s future uncertain and Cody Gakpo sidelined for several weeks, Slot needs stability and belief from his squad. This gritty win, earned through collective effort rather than star power, may provide exactly that.
The 4,400 travelling fans in the highest reaches of the San Siro celebrated loudly at full time, their side victorious in Milan for the fourth consecutive year. Liverpool now sit on 12 points from six games, with automatic qualification to the last 16 all but assured. Inter remain on the same tally but slipped to fifth in the standings, their long home unbeaten run in Europe finally broken.
Liverpool return to domestic action on Saturday against Brighton before travelling to Marseille in January. Inter next host Arsenal in a crucial European fixture. For Slot and his players, however, this triumph in Milan may mark the turning point they have desperately needed.
