Late Szoboszlai penalty lifts Liverpool to crucial victory over Inter | OneFootball

Liverpool claimed a vital Champions League victory as Dominik Szoboszlai’s late penalty sealed a hard-earned win over Inter Milan.

Arne Slot’s team arrived at the San Siro without Mohamed Salah after he was left out of the travelling squad following his controversial post-match comments at Leeds United.

The absence of Liverpool’s all-time leading Champions League scorer placed greater pressure on a frontline still gelling after summer changes.

Inter entered the night unbeaten at home in Europe since 2022 but struggled to unsettle a Liverpool side that controlled long spells of the first half and defended well when needed.

Curtis Jones tested Yann Sommer with a low effort from the edge of the area as Liverpool found space between Inter’s midfield and back three.

Hugo Ekitike also forced the goalkeeper into action after a clever run in behind.

Liverpool thought they had taken the lead when Ibrahima Konate headed in from close range during a goalmouth scramble, but the effort was ruled out after a lengthy VAR check for handball in the build-up.

Inter responded with greater aggression and almost struck before the interval when Lautaro Martinez directed a powerful header towards the bottom corner, only for Alisson Becker to claw it away.

The second half became tighter as both sides cancelled each other out, with Slot’s team maintaining their defensive shape while waiting for a decisive opening.

Substitute Conor Bradley injected urgency down the right and twice unsettled Inter’s back line with direct runs that shifted the momentum back in Liverpool’s favour.

The breakthrough arrived in the 88th minute when Florian Wirtz darted into the box and was hauled back by Alessandro Bastoni, a foul confirmed after the referee consulted the pitch-side monitor.

Szoboszlai assumed penalty duties in Salah’s absence and drove his finish beyond Sommer to secure three points that could prove pivotal.

Inter pushed forward in stoppage time, but Liverpool’s back line absorbed the pressure and completed a composed defensive performance.

The result lifts Liverpool into a stronger qualifying position and offers Slot a valuable victory at the end of a turbulent week dominated by Salah’s childish outburst.