Final Thoughts: Liverpool find new identity in victory over Inter Milan | OneFootball

Inter 0 – 1 Liverpool – Champions League Postmortem

After a poor showing last week and a return to European football marked by tension and uncertainty, Liverpool delivered its most complete and disciplined performance of the season under the lights of the San Siro. With internal turmoil dominating the narrative and Mohamed Salah excluded entirely from the travelling squad, this was a night that demanded clarity, unity, and control. Remarkably, Liverpool found all three and played like an Italian side to beat an Italian giant.

What emerged was not only a vital Champions League victory, but perhaps the clearest indication yet of what this Liverpool side should look like. Arne Slot finally abandoned the broken system that had dragged the champions into chaos and implemented a diamond midfield built for stability, balance, and intelligent pressing. The result? Control, composure, and—most importantly—a performance that looked like a team rediscovering its purpose. It is a system of play I have been itching to see and though the game was unspectacular, the gameplay was assured.

The Starting Eleven

Liverpool XI

• GK – Alisson Becker

• RB – Joe Gomez

• CB – Ibrahima Konaté

• CB – Virgil van Dijk (c)

• LB – Milos Kerkez

• CM – Curtis Jones

• CM – Ryan Gravenberch

• CM – Dominik Szoboszlai

• ACM – Alexis Mac Allister

• CF – Alexander Isak

• CF – Cody Gakpo

Substitutes

Florian Wirtz → Alexander Isak (67’)

Conor Bradley → Joe Gomez (67’)

Goals

Inter 0–1 Liverpool – Dominik Szoboszlai (Penalty) – 88’

Match Statistics

• Possession – Inter 50% | Liverpool 50%

• XG – Inter 0.43 | Liverpool 1.47

• Total Shots – Inter 9 | Liverpool 12

• Fouls – Inter 14 | Liverpool 11

• Corners – Inter 6 | Liverpool 3

• Saves – Inter 4 | Liverpool 2

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First Half

An anxious away end watched Liverpool begin with an unfamiliar yet refreshing level of structure. The new diamond shape allowed Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch, and Dominik Szoboszlai to form a compact, physical triangle that shut down Inter’s central channels. The full-backs held their ground. The centre-backs were authoritative. Hugo Ekitike and Isak were tasked with a dual-striker role—one that only suited half of the pairing.

Despite some sterile possession phases, Liverpool were never stretched. Konaté nearly opened the scoring, Szoboszlai probed with intent, and the general pattern was unmistakable: Liverpool finally looked coached again.

Second Half

The restart brought something Liverpool have not felt in months—control. Inter attempted to raise the tempo, but Alisson remained largely untested behind a disciplined defensive block. Gravenberch’s improvement was stark; his positioning was cleaner, his duels more convincing, and his composure notably restored. Fewer touches and more incision.

Szoboszlai shifted into a higher gear, driving Liverpool forward with that familiar blend of elegance and force. When Wirtz entered the fray, creativity followed. And as Inter tired, the pressure built.

The breakthrough came as the clock ticked down, Szoboszlai thundering home a decisive penalty with the conviction of a man ready to lead this club into a new chapter.

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Final Thoughts

Liverpool’s season is still hanging by a thread, but this night in Milan offered something long missing: evidence of a direction. Dropping Mohamed Salah—a decision that may yet require a public response from the Egyptian—proved justified on performance alone. The new system worked, the midfield looked functional, and the collective effort signalled a dressing room still willing to fight.

Yet the warning remains: Alexander Isak’s form is a real concern, and this system only thrives if its forwards contribute. Still, the diamond breathed life back into a team gasping for identity.

If this truly is the turning point, it began here—with Szoboszlai, with structure, and with a long-overdue tactical reset.

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Steven Smith’s Score Prediction:

Inter 3 – 1 Liverpool