Liverpool overcame the absence of Mohamed Salah to secure a 1-0 Champions League win against Inter Milan at the San Siro.
Salah, sidelined after a heated confrontation with manager Arne Slot following Saturday’s draw at Leeds, left Liverpool without their usual penalty taker. It fell to Dominik Szoboszlai to step up and calmly slot home an 88th-minute penalty, delivering the decisive goal.
While Salah’s absence could have been a major setback, Liverpool showed signs of resilience in what has been a challenging season, moving back into the top eight and improving their chances of avoiding the play-offs.
This result also demonstrated progress against an Inter side that had won seven of their last nine matches and remained unbeaten in 18 consecutive home European fixtures.
Salah had shared a glimpse of his day on social media, posting a photo from an empty gym at the AXA training complex.
The forward’s absence came after he claimed a breakdown in his relationship with Slot and suggested someone at the club was attempting to push him out.
With Cody Gakpo injured and Federico Chiesa unavailable due to illness, Slot was left with just two senior forwards, both of whom started the match.
Despite costing a combined £200 million, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike struggled to make an impact, and Inter’s defense easily dealt with their limited threat.
Ekitike, operating in a position usually occupied by Salah, preferred his right foot over the Egyptian star’s trademark left, resulting in a narrow-angle shot that Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer comfortably saved.
The pair’s lack of cohesion was evident, with misfired passes highlighting the absence of understanding between themselves and teammates.
Alexis Mac Allister’s pass to Isak down the inside lane, bypassing Manuel Akanji, epitomized the mismatch in timing and positioning.
Liverpool’s attacking void was partly offset by Curtis Jones, who impressed on the left side of the midfield diamond, and Ryan Gravenberch, both of whom tested Sommer.
Virgil van Dijk, with just five goals, was Liverpool’s next highest scorer after Salah’s 46 Champions League strikes.
Defensively, Ibrahima Konaté nearly added to Liverpool’s tally when he headed in from close range, but the ball struck Ekitike’s arm. After four minutes of VAR review, referee Felix Zwayer correctly disallowed the goal.
Inter finished the first half strongly, with Nicolò Barella curling a free kick narrowly wide and Alisson Becker producing a key save from Lautaro Martínez’s header.
Liverpool’s forwards increased their work rate in the second half, with Isak eventually making way for fellow £100m signing Florian Wirtz.
The decisive moment arrived when Wirtz drew a shirt tug from Alessandro Bastoni in the penalty area, allowing Szoboszlai to convert and secure the win.
The goal sparked relief and celebration among Liverpool fans, with chants of Slot’s name echoing as the match concluded.
