By Michael Nsikan Richard – December 10th 2025
Date: 9th December 2025
Venue & Attendance: San Siro Stadium; 73,892
Result: Inter Milan 0-1 Liverpool
Pre-Match Context
Both clubs came into this Champions League fixture at vastly different moments in their seasons, though the pressure weighed heaviest on Liverpool’s shoulders. The Reds had endured a horrible stretch of form, managing only a single victory across their last 6 games while suffering 3 defeats and settling for 2 draws.
Inter Milan painted a starkly different picture. They had claimed victory in 7 of their previous 9 matches and were protecting an enviable 18-game unbeaten streak at home in European competition, as ESPN reported.
However, the football itself risked being overshadowed by the Mohamed Salah saga. Liverpool’s all-time leading Premier League scorer didn’t even make the trip to Milan after manager Arne Slot left him behind following some explosive comments.
After their 3-3 stalemate at Leeds United, Salah had publicly aired his grievances, claiming he had been “thrown under the bus” following 3 straight games on the bench and suggesting his relationship with Slot had completely broken down. This very public rift meant Slot desperately needed a result to justify his controversial decision.
Match Analysis
First Half Stalemate: Liverpool came out with purpose against last season’s Champions League finalists. Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch both forced Yann Sommer into early action, and the visitors looked comfortable dictating the tempo despite being in enemy territory.
The half’s biggest talking point came 32 minutes in when Ibrahima Konate bundled the ball home from close range, only for the celebrations to be cut short. The ball had struck Hugo Ekitike’s upper arm after Virgil van Dijk’s initial header, and it took Felix Zwayer and his VAR team a full 4 minutes to chalk off the goal. Liverpool felt hard done by what they saw as a harsh interpretation of the handball rule.
Inter’s evening got worse when they lost both Hakan Calhanoglu and Francesco Acerbi to injury before the break. These forced substitutions clearly disrupted their flow and forced tactical adjustments.
The hosts finished the half strongly, though, with Nicolo Barella curling a free kick narrowly past the post and Alisson Becker producing a fine stop to deny Lautaro Martínez’s header.
Second Half: After the interval, genuine scoring opportunities became scarce for both sides. The strikers increased their defensive contributions as momentum shifted back and forth before Florian Wirtz eventually replaced Isak. That substitution would change everything.
As the clock ticked toward what seemed an inevitable draw, the decisive moment arrived in the 88th minute.
VAR intervened to award Liverpool a penalty after Florian Wirtz tumbled in the box under challenge from Alessandro Bastoni. The decision sparked immediate controversy, with replays suggesting any contact was marginal at best.
Dominik Szoboszlai didn’t let the debate affect him, confidently placing his right-footed effort into the corner beyond Sommer’s reach. The goal took Szoboszlai to 10 combined goals and assists for the season, split evenly at 5 apiece, putting him ahead of every other Liverpool player in that metric.
Match Statistics
- Possession: Inter 50% – Liverpool 50%
- Shots on Target: Inter 2 – Liverpool 5
- Total Shots: Inter 9 – Liverpool 12
- Corners: Inter 6 – Liverpool 3.
- Fouls Committed: Inter 14 – Liverpool 11
- Yellow Cards: Inter 3 – Liverpool 2
Standings Impact
According to Sky Sports, the 3 points lifted Liverpool back into the competition’s top 8 and significantly improved their chances of bypassing the playoff round.
Inter, meanwhile, suffered consecutive defeats and dropped to 5th position in the standings.
For Slot, the victory provided welcome breathing room amid the noise surrounding his public rift with Mohamed Salah, while also strengthening Liverpool’s European qualification prospects.
Bottom Line
VAR controversy, tactical resilience, and Szoboszlai’s composure under pressure defined this encounter. Liverpool showed admirable character in handling both their internal turmoil and a formidable opponent playing on home soil. While the nature of their victory, secured through a questionable late penalty, will undoubtedly spark debate, the result gave Liverpool vital momentum and kept their Champions League knockout qualification firmly within reach.
Inter will look back with regret at chances spurned and injuries that derailed their rhythm, while Liverpool proved their ability to cope without Salah, however temporarily. The match showcased the quality both sides possess, with the thinnest of margins ultimately separating them.
https://www.liverpool.com/liverpool-fc-news/features/salah-instagram-haaland-mbappe-slot-33030070
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