In the sixth round of the UEFA Champions League, Liverpool clinched a 1–0 victory over last season’s UCL runners-up Inter Milan thanks to a penalty converted by Dominik Szoboszlai. The win also brought an end to Inter’s three-year unbeaten home record in the competition.
Despite their recent inconsistency and the turbulence caused by club talisman Mohamed Salah’s controversial remarks, the Premier League champions continue to push forward amid internal and external challenges.
Reds Win It from the Spot
Liverpool manager Arne Slot opted for a diamond midfield supported by a two-striker system.
In the 32nd minute, Szoboszlai delivered a corner which struck Hugo Ekitike’s arm before Ibrahima Konaté headed the ball into the net from close range. However, after a VAR review, Ekitike was deemed to have handled the ball first, and the goal was ruled out, denying Liverpool an early breakthrough.
As the match approached its final moments, Florian Wirtz was brought down in the box by Alessandro Bastoni, prompting the referee to award Liverpool a penalty. Szoboszlai confidently converted, scoring in the 88th minute to seal the win.
Both Teams on Level Points After the Match
Following this victory, Liverpool sits 8th in the standings with 12 points, while Inter Milan remains 5th with 12 points.
After the game, Slot, whose name was passionately chanted by travelling Liverpool supporters expressed his gratitude: “In tough times, our fans still travel to support us. This once again shows that when situations get difficult, we stand together and fight together. That’s the spirit shared by both the players and the fans.”
Inter Unhappy with Penalty Decision
However, Inter’s players and coaching staff were visibly unhappy with the penalty call. Piotr Zieliński remarked, “If actions like this are given as penalties, then every bit of contact would result in one.”
Even Slot admitted, “I don’t think this would be given in the Premier League, but it is a penalty.”
Salah Controversy Continues
The ongoing drama surrounding Salah, who was left out of the squad after publicly expressing feelings of being “abandoned”, remained a central topic post-match. Although Slot insisted that attention should be on the players on the pitch, every Liverpool player interviewed was still asked about the issue.
Captain Virgil van Dijk acknowledged the uneasy atmosphere of recent days, saying, “It was unpleasant. This is a team issue, not an individual one. Salah was unable to help us today due to club-Salah issues. But it won’t bother us. We remain focused.”
Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch added, “Everyone deals with it in their own way, and everyone has their own view. But I prefer to keep my thoughts to myself. I respect Liverpool.”
The Reds Stay Resilient Amid Adversity
With uncertainty and pressure still lingering, Liverpool’s path ahead remains challenging. Yet responding with determination on the pitch and staying united in the face of turbulence may be the team’s greatest strength.
Regardless of how the off-field drama unfolds, this crucial victory has shown that the Reds remain a side that cannot be easily beaten.
