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San Siro has a way of turning an ordinary match into something that feels bigger than football. The lights, the echo of the crowd, the sense of history in the concrete. On Tuesday night, Liverpool stepped into all of that pressure and walked out with a precious 1-0 Champions League win over Inter Milan thanks to a late, ice cold penalty from Dominik Szoboszlai.
It was the kind of result that keeps a European campaign alive. It also showed how much fight, calm and control Arne Slot’s team can summon when everything is on the line.
A High Stakes Evening in Milan
Liverpool came into this league phase clash knowing that any points at San Siro would be valuable. With twelve points on the board after six matches, and two more to come in January, Slot needed a strong performance and a positive result to keep the pressure on the group.
The team sheet hinted at a bold approach. Four changes were made, including the return of Alexander Isak up front. Hugo Ekitike kept his place, Szoboszlai was trusted again in midfield and Andy Robertson came back into the starting group after recovering from a knock.
The starting eleven read: Alisson, Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Ekitike and Isak. With both Mamardashvili and Woodman on the bench, Liverpool were well covered but clearly focused on attacking talent. Slot’s message was simple. Brave football in a difficult place.
A First Half of Half Chances and Close Calls
Both sides stepped into a loud, electric atmosphere. The first few minutes were cagey as each team tried to figure out the rhythm. Inter suffered an early setback when Hakan Calhanoglu limped off, and Liverpool had a scare of their own when Robertson took a heavy challenge from Lautaro Martinez and required treatment.
It took eighteen minutes before either goalkeeper had real work to do. Yann Sommer reacted sharply to stop Curtis Jones and then Ryan Gravenberch within moments of each other. Both efforts were comfortable but they were warnings that Liverpool were beginning to find pockets of space.
Inter answered with urgency. Martinez darted through midfield and almost broke through on a one two with Marcus Thuram. The move deserved a better ending but Gravenberch tracked back superbly and cut out the danger inside the box. Liverpool then had the best moment so far. Ekitike ran onto a long ball, slipped past Acerbi and got a shot away from a tight angle. Sommer spread himself and blocked at the near post.
The turning point of the half arrived on thirty two minutes. From a corner, Ekitike and Van Dijk both challenged and the loose ball dropped to Ibrahima Konate. The defender nodded it into the net, only for Inter to attempt a frantic clearance. The celebrations were cut short. VAR intervened, the referee checked the monitor, and the goal was disallowed for a handball in the buildup. It was a blow, but not fatal. Liverpool stayed composed and kept moving the ball with purpose.
Inter pushed back just before the break. Nicolo Barella bent a free kick inches wide of the post. Then, in the final moments of seven minutes of added time, Martinez forced Alisson into a sharp, strong save with a flicked header. It was a reminder that even when Liverpool controlled possession, Inter remained dangerous. The half ended goalless, tense, and balanced.
Liverpool Find a Second Half Footing
The second half opened with a near miss from Isak, who hooked a loose ball over the bar after Sommer mishandled a pass out from the back. It set the tone for Liverpool’s growing confidence. Robertson sent in a teasing cross soon after and Inter scrambled to clear. The Reds were enjoying long stretches of possession and the home crowd began to sound a little uneasy.
But Inter always carried a punch. A quick counter forced Virgil van Dijk to step across and block a promising Martinez strike. His timing was perfect. Without it, Liverpool could easily have gone behind. Midway through the half, Slot made his move. Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz entered the game for Gomez and Isak. The substitutions had an immediate impact.
Bradley controlled a long pass off his chest and found Ekitike inside the area. The striker hit it first time but Manuel Akanji threw himself into the block. Minutes later Hugo Ekitike turned provider, sliding a ball into Bradley’s path. The angle was tight and Sommer again produced a firm stop.
At this point the Liverpool supporters tucked high in the away end were loud and hopeful. They could feel Inter tiring. They could sense that one moment might decide everything.
The Big Moment Arrives
With the match closing in on full time, Liverpool launched one last push. A cross into the area found Wirtz trying to spin away from Alessandro Bastoni. The defender tugged him back and Wirtz went down. The referee let play go initially, but VAR called for another review. Every Liverpool fan in the stadium held their breath. After a long check, the decision came. Penalty to Liverpool.
Dominik Szoboszlai stepped forward without hesitation. He placed the ball, took a short run up and smashed it past Sommer. Power, accuracy and complete confidence. The away end erupted. The Liverpool bench did too. With only minutes left, the goal proved enough to seal the win.
A Result That Means More Than Just Three Points
This match was not a classic full of goals. It was a battle. A test of mentality, patience and resilience. Liverpool walked out of San Siro with all of those qualities intact. Szoboszlai’s late strike will take most of the headlines, but this was a complete team effort. Konate and Van Dijk were immense. Gravenberch covered ground everywhere. Ekitike worked tirelessly. Bradley changed the tempo when he came on.
Slot can be proud of how his players handled a difficult night in a famous stadium. With twelve points from six games, Liverpool are well positioned heading into the final two fixtures of the league phase in January. The path ahead is still challenging, but nights like this one show what the team is capable of.
Winning in Europe is never simple. Winning at San Siro is even harder. Liverpool managed both, and they did it with heart, control and a perfect late finish from Szoboszlai. A narrow victory, but a huge one. If Liverpool keep playing with this kind of composure, their Champions League journey could stretch deep into the new year.
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YNWA (You’ll Never Walk Alone)!
The Liverpool FC Times Team
LiverpoolFCTimes.com