By Tahmid Habib

Dominik Szoboszlai's 88th-minute penalty ended Internazionale's 18-match unbeaten home run in the Champions League as Liverpool secured a crucial 1-0 victory at the San Siro.

Liverpool shrugged off Mohamed Salah's absence after the Egyptian's explosive comments following Saturday's draw at Leeds United, delivering their most resilient performance in weeks at the home of last season's Champions League runners-up. The Hungarian midfielder stepped up to convert a controversial spot-kick after substitute Florian Wirtz was adjudged to have been fouled by Alessandro Bastoni, ending a largely cagey affair that had been dominated by VAR interventions.

The victory was crucial for Arne Slot's side, lifting them into eighth place in the Champions League standings with 12 points from six matches, keeping their hopes of automatic qualification to the knockout rounds alive. For Inter, who dropped to fifth despite also having 12 points, it marked their first home defeat in Europe's premier competition since losing to Bayern Munich in September 2022.

Story of The Match

Credit: Supersport

Liverpool made two changes from their weekend draw, with Andy Robertson and Joe Gomez returning to the starting lineup. The Reds deployed a diamond midfield formation with Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike paired up front, only the second time the duo had started together this season. Mohamed Salah was conspicuously absent from the traveling squad entirely, having been left at home following his post-match outburst at Elland Road.

Inter's evening was complicated early on when they lost both Hakan Calhanoglu to an adductor injury after just 11 minutes and Francesco Acerbi before half-time, forcing Cristian Chivu into reshuffling his settled backline. Piotr Zielinski replaced Calhanoglu in midfield, while Yann Bisseck came on for Acerbi.

Credit: Tribuna.com

Liverpool controlled the opening exchanges, with Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch both testing Yann Sommer with well-struck efforts. The visitors appeared to have their breakthrough in the 32nd minute when Ibrahima Konate bundled the ball home from close range following a corner. However, after a lengthy four-minute VAR review, referee Felix Zwayer was advised to consult the pitchside monitor, eventually ruling the goal out for handball against Ekitike in the build-up.

Pressure Builds

The disallowed goal sparked Inter into life. Nicolò Barella whipped a free-kick narrowly wide before the interval, while Alisson Becker was forced into action to deny Lautaro Martinez's powerful header in first-half stoppage time, keeping the scores level at the break.

The second half proved a more cautious affair, with both sides wary of committing too many men forward. Ekitike forced Sommer into a routine save from distance, while substitute Conor Bradley, introduced alongside Wirtz after 68 minutes, brought a more impressive stop from the Inter goalkeeper with a low drive towards the near post.

With the match appearing destined for a stalemate, VAR intervened once more in the 88th minute. Wirtz went down following what appeared to be a soft pull of the shirt by Bastoni, with play initially waved on. However, Zwayer was again summoned to the monitor and, after a brief review, pointed to the spot.

Credit: The Mirror

Szoboszlai, taking responsibility in the absence of regular penalty taker Salah, made no mistake, rifling his effort beyond Sommer's despairing dive to send the traveling Kop into raptures. The spot-kick was Liverpool's latest ever winning goal scored away from home in the Champions League.

Inter pressed desperately for an equalizer in the six minutes of added time, but Liverpool's defense held firm to secure a precious, clean sheet and three points that had seemed unlikely for much of the contest.

Player of The Match: Dominik Szoboszlai

Credit: Opta Analyst

The Hungarian midfielder delivered when it mattered most, converting the decisive penalty with ice-cold composure under immense pressure. Beyond his crucial goal, Szoboszlai was Liverpool's most creative force throughout the evening, creating a joint team-high of two chances while playing the most passes in the final third with 18. He has now been directly involved in 10 goals this season (five goals and five assists) more than any other Liverpool player. His four crosses were also more than any teammate managed, demonstrating his importance in both creating and finishing opportunities for the Reds. In a match where Liverpool needed leaders to step up in Salah's absence, Szoboszlai answered the call emphatically.

Marseille (A) and Qarabag (H) stand between Liverpool and automatic qualification to the Round of 16 stage or be subjected to a two-legged encounter in February to keep their European campaign alive.