Salah-less Liverpool win at Inter with late penalty

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Liverpool secured a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan at San Siro in the Champions League on December 9, 2025, despite the absence of Mohamed Salah. The winning goal came from Dominik Szoboszlai, who scored a late penalty in the 88th minute after a VAR review awarded the spot-kick due to a shirt pull on substitute Florian Wirtz by Inter's Alessandro Bastoni.

The match was marked by Liverpool's struggle to create clear chances, reflected in their low expected goals (xG) of 0.06 from open play in the first half, with few shots on target. Liverpool initially thought they had taken the lead through a close-range header by Ibrahima Konaté, but the goal was disallowed after a prolonged VAR check confirmed a handball by Inter striker Hugo Ekitike just before the shot.

Inter Milan showed some attacking threat late in the first half with Nicolò Barella and Lautaro Martínez testing Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, who made key saves to maintain the goalless scoreline at halftime. Both teams increased their attacking efforts after the break, with Liverpool’s forwards starting to find a better rhythm.

Salah’s absence was notable as he remains Liverpool’s leading Champions League scorer with 46 goals; the next highest scorer on the team is Virgil van Dijk with only five. This fact underscores the challenge Liverpool faced in breaking down Inter’s defense without their star winger.

The penalty awarded late in the game was somewhat debatable but ultimately decisive. Szoboszlai confidently converted the spot-kick, sending the ball past Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer, securing Liverpool’s fifth win in 16 matches across all competitions this season and boosting their prospects of progressing in the Champions League.

This victory put Liverpool in eighth place in their group with 12 points from six games, closely trailing Inter, who also have 12 points but a superior goal difference. Liverpool will next face Marseille (away) and Qarabag (home) in the remaining group matches, aiming to secure direct qualification for the last 16.