Liverpool Snatch Late Win at Inter as Salah Rift Casts Long Shadow

Dominik Szoboszlai converted the decisive spot-kick after referee Felix Zwayer penalised Alessandro Bastoni for a light tug on Florian Wirtz’s shirt—an incident Inter argued would rarely warrant such a call. The decision ignited fury among Inter’s players and supporters, yet it handed Liverpool three vital points on a night when they struggled to assert themselves and had a first-half Ibrahima Konaté header ruled out for a Hugo Ekitike handball following a lengthy VAR review.

Liverpool’s travelling fans chanted Slot’s name after the final whistle, embracing a morale boost at a time when the club’s form and harmony have been under scrutiny. “We all needed it,” said Andy Robertson to Amazon Prime, acknowledging the team’s inconsistent performances over recent weeks. “It’s important this club is in the Champions League.”

Inter, meanwhile, were left to reckon with a second consecutive European defeat and a match in which they produced little attacking threat against a depleted Liverpool squad missing Salah, Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo. Midfielder Piotr Zieliński voiced the frustrations inside the home dressing room, telling Sky Sport Italia that the team felt both “disappointed” and “angry” at the nature of the late call.

The narrow win moves Liverpool to 12 points from six matches, placing them inside the top eight positions that guarantee direct qualification for the round of 16 at this stage of the competition. Inter sit fifth with the same total, yet face a difficult finish to the league phase with upcoming fixtures against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund. Last season, 16 points were enough to avoid the play-offs, leaving Cristian Chivu’s side with little room for error.

The evening’s events also unfolded under the glare of the Salah controversy. The 33-year-old forward, who signed a fresh contract in April, ignited a storm over the weekend by stating he felt “thrown under the bus” after being benched for three consecutive matches, including Saturday’s 3–3 draw at Leeds. Slot admitted on Monday he had “no clue” whether Salah had played his final game for the club. Saudi representatives quickly signalled renewed interest in bringing the forward to the Middle East in January.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk acknowledged the strain, describing the situation as “difficult” but emphasising the squad’s determination to remain focused amid the turmoil. “Between Mo and the club, things are going on and he’s not here today,” he said. “That’s the reality.”

For much of the first half, Inter appeared reluctant to press a disjointed Liverpool side, taking until the 37th minute to register their first effort at goal. Konaté’s disallowed header briefly lifted the volume inside the stadium, but Lautaro Martínez squandered Inter’s best chance before the break by directing a close-range header straight at Alisson Becker. The second half, however, quickly slipped into a sluggish stalemate, broken only when Szoboszlai dispatched the late penalty that transformed the night.

Liverpool’s victory provides temporary relief but leaves pressing questions unresolved—on the field, where consistency remains elusive, and off it, where the Salah saga threatens to overshadow their European ambitions. For Inter, the defeat marks a dangerous stumble in a fiercely competitive group stage, heightening pressure ahead of their final two fixtures and raising fresh concerns over momentum at a critical juncture.