Liverpool achieved a 1-0 victory against Internazionale at the San Siro in the UEFA Champions League. The win comes during a period of internal disruption, notably concerning head coach Arne Slot and forward Mohamed Salah. The decisive moment occurred in the 88th minute when Dominik Szoboszlai converted a penalty, which was awarded after a VAR review identified a foul by Alessandro Bastoni on Florian Wirtz.

Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s regular penalty taker, was not present. He was omitted from the squad following a public dispute with head coach Slot. Salah’s recent comments suggested dissatisfaction with the club’s handling of his situation and implied that his tenure at Liverpool might be ending. These circumstances contributed to a challenging pre-match environment for the team and its manager.

Additionally, Liverpool was without Cody Gakpo due to injury. As a result, Slot selected Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike as the forward pairing. This combination had previously faced criticism, largely due to their cumulative transfer fees totaling £204 million and their limited impact in earlier matches. In this fixture, Isak registered 25 touches prior to his substitution, and Ekitike did not record significant opportunities against Inter’s defense.

Despite these offensive limitations, Liverpool’s defensive structure was effective. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker faced one significant threat, making a key save against Lautaro Martínez. Liverpool also had a goal disallowed when VAR determined that Ekitike had committed a handball before Ibrahima Konaté’s header. Konaté’s overall performance was noted as improved, particularly given recent subpar displays.

Statistically, Liverpool limited Inter’s high-quality chances and gradually increased their control of the match. The penalty, resulting from Bastoni’s foul, proved decisive as Szoboszlai converted the opportunity. The victory ended Inter’s 18-match unbeaten home run in European competition, which dated back to 2022.

Post-match, Liverpool supporters displayed vocal support for Slot, whose managerial authority had been publicly challenged amid the Salah dispute. Slot acknowledged the result’s significance but emphasized that the squad’s resources were depleted, referencing only 13 available outfield players with high-level experience and a congested match schedule.

Despite the positive result, broader issues remain unresolved. Salah is expected to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations, and the relationship between the player and coach requires attention to restore internal cohesion. The data point that this was Liverpool’s first away Champions League victory without Salah since 2009 highlights the rarity of such outcomes for the club.

In summary, Liverpool’s win at the San Siro reflects the team’s defensive solidity and capacity to deliver results under adverse conditions. However, the underlying personnel and management issues persist and will require further action moving forward.