Inter vs Liverpool: No Salah, no problem as Reds win after penalty controversy

As Egyptian legend Mohamed Salah started his exile from the Liverpool first team, the Reds battled to a crucial 1-0 win over Inter.

Liverpool benefited from a controversial penalty decision as Dominik Szoboszlai struck late in the game for a win that gave Arne Slot a much-needed win after his decision not to travel with Salah for the European fixture.

Liverpool travelled to Italy without Mohamed Salah, who was excluded after criticising the club and Arne Slot in a fiery “under the bus” post-match outburst.

Despite the surrounding drama, Liverpool started brightly against Inter, with Curtis Jones drawing an early save from Yann Sommer before Ibrahima Konaté saw a headed goal ruled out for a VAR-spotted handball by Hugo Ekitike in the buildup.

Inter responded well, and Lautaro Martínez forced Alisson into a sharp reaction stop as they pushed for a halftime lead.

The second half brought fewer chances, with both sides cancelling each other out defensively. Ekitike tried his luck from distance, but Sommer dealt with it comfortably, while Liverpool’s best opportunity of the half came when Conor Bradley broke into the box only to fire straight at Sommer.

Just as a goalless draw looked certain, Liverpool were handed a late lifeline when Alessandro Bastoni was controversially penalised for a light pull on Florian Wirtz. Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up and smashed the penalty beyond Sommer, earning Liverpool all three points.

The win lifts the Reds to eighth place and level on points with fifth-placed Inter, who have now suffered consecutive UCL defeats.