A struggling Liverpool, criticised in recent weeks for their inconsistent Premier League form, travelled to face Inter as clear underdogs. Missing Mohamed Salah, without Cody Gakpo, and with a depleted bench that offered little depth, the Reds arrived in Milan with more questions than answers.

The first real threat came from the visitors on 18 minutes. Curtis Jones fired low toward the far corner from the edge of the box, only for Yann Sommer to produce a sharp save. The attack rolled on, and the Inter goalkeeper also denied a follow-up strike from Ryan Gravenberch.

On 32 minutes, centre-back Ibrahima Konaté headed the ball into the net after a corner routine. VAR reviewed the build-up for nearly three minutes, investigating a possible handball by assistant runner Hugo Ekitike. After being sent to the monitor, referee Felix Zwayer quickly ruled the goal out.

Inter’s first shot of the match arrived in the 37th minute when defender Yann Bisseck struck from the edge of the box. The ball deflected off Virgil van Dijk and went out for a corner. Inter players appealed for handball against the Liverpool captain, but Zwayer waved the claims away.

Inter’s most dangerous moment of the half came deep into stoppage time, as Lautaro Martínez powered a header goalward from a superb Alessandro Bastoni cross. But Alisson Becker reacted brilliantly, keeping the match scoreless at the interval.

The tension escalated in the second half. In the 74th minute, Curtis Jones committed a late foul on Henrikh Mkhitaryan and was shown a yellow card. Rising to his feet, the Liverpool midfielder appeared to gesture at the referee by twirling a finger near his temple — an act that often results in further punishment. Zwayer, however, opted for leniency. On the touchline, Liverpool manager Arne Slot made a similar gesture in visible frustration at his player’s actions.

The decisive moment arrived in the dying minutes. VAR reviewed a potential penalty after Alessandro Bastoni appeared to tug Florian Wirtz inside the box. Zwayer was again called to the monitor and promptly awarded the spot-kick. Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up, and although Sommer guessed the direction correctly, the Hungarian struck with precision and power, sealing a dramatic 1–0 victory for Liverpool.

2025-26 UEFA Champions League

Inter - Liverpool 0:1 (0:0)
Goals: Szoboszlai, 88 (penalty) (0:1)

Inter: Sommer; Bastoni; Dimarco (Carlos Augusto, 83); Acerbi (Bisseck, 31); Akanji; Mkhitaryan (Sucic P., 82); Barella; Çalhanoğlu (Zielinski P., 11); Thuram M. (Bonny, 83); Martínez L.; Luis Henrique T.L.
Substitution: Zielinski P. (from 11); Bisseck (from 31); Sucic P. (from 82); Carlos Augusto (from 83); Bonny (from 83)
Bench: Martínez J-p; Cocchi; de Vrij; Frattesi; Pio Esposito; Diouf A.
Yellow Cards: Martínez L. 13; Mkhitaryan 57; Bastoni 87

Liverpool: Alisson; Gomez (Bradley C., 68); van Dijk; Konate; Robertson A.; Gravenberch R.; Szoboszlai; Mac Allister A.; Jones Cur.; Isak (Wirtz, 68); Ekitike
Substitution: Bradley C. (from 68); Wirtz (from 68)
Bench: Mamardashvili; Woodman; Omoruyi; Kerkez M.; Nyoni; Ngumoha
Yellow Cards: Ekitike 39; Jones Cur. 74