Match Report: Dominik Szoboszlai scores late winner as Liverpool beat Inter Milan | OneFootball

Inter Milan Undone Late as Liverpool Find Composure in Champions League Clash

Liverpool’s resurgence under Arne Slot continues to gather momentum, and their 1-0 win at Inter Milan felt like another small but significant step toward restoring authority in Europe. It took until the eighty eighth minute for Dominik Szoboszlai to settle the contest, yet the drama and context around the victory stretched far beyond a single decisive moment.

Szoboszlai Delivers Under Pressure

The build up revolved around Mohamed Salah’s absence after he claimed Liverpool had “thrown him under the bus”, a comment that sharpened the focus on a squad already navigating turbulence. Without him, responsibility shifted, and it was Szoboszlai who embraced it.

Liverpool had earlier seen Ibrahima Konate’s first half header ruled out after a lengthy VAR check, a moment that briefly ignited the away end before the decision dampened celebrations. The rhythm of the game remained tense, dictated by disciplined defensive structures and calculated possession rather than continual chances.

When Florian Wirtz went down under the shirt pull from Alessandro Bastoni, the referee initially waved play on. VAR intervened, and the tug was deemed enough. Szoboszlai struck with conviction. Inter keeper Yann Sommer guessed correctly but could not repel the sheer force of the penalty. As Slot stood calm on the touchline, his midfielder delivered a moment Liverpool badly needed.

Photo: IMAGO

Inter Milan Falter as Liverpool Rise

Inter Milan had entered the night with renewed confidence but struggled to impose themselves in decisive areas. Their positional play was neat, their counter movements tidy, yet clear chances seldom materialised. The game evolved into a contest of small margins, and Liverpool’s willingness to stay patient ultimately proved decisive.

For Inter, the defeat was doubly damaging. Dropping to fifth in the standings, despite sharing the same points tally as Liverpool, leaves little room for error in the final rounds. Their supporters sensed the setback, especially in a match where they had largely controlled phases without finding breakthroughs that define Champions League winners.

Liverpool Build Stability After Turbulent Run

Liverpool’s own context made the win even more valuable. Slot’s team had endured a grim run of nine defeats in twelve, the sort of sequence that unravels seasons and destabilises dressing rooms. Yet they have now gone four unbeaten, edging back toward the fluidity and confidence that characterised their title winning 2024-25 campaign.

Twelve points from six matches lift them into the top eight, a zone that secures automatic qualification to the last sixteen. Performance wise, this was not vintage Liverpool, but it offered structure, resilience and maturity, qualities Slot has worked hard to reintroduce following a difficult autumn.

As the travelling supporters celebrated, Szoboszlai’s penalty felt less like a steal and more like a reward for resolve. Against an Inter Milan side that rarely loses composure at San Siro, Liverpool found theirs when it mattered most.