Liverpool reignited their Champions League ambitions with a gritty 1–0 victory over Inter Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday night, a result secured only in the dying minutes of a tense and often scrappy contest.
Dominik Szoboszlai delivered the decisive moment from the penalty spot, smashing his effort past Yann Sommer after referee Felix Zwayer penalised Alessandro Bastoni for pulling Florian Wirtz’s shirt inside the box. Inter’s players protested furiously, surrounding the referee, but the decision was upheld, allowing Liverpool to leave Italy with a valuable three points.
The drama unfolded against a backdrop of internal turmoil for Liverpool. Mohamed Salah was left out of the travelling squad after publicly criticising manager Arne Slot, claiming he had been “thrown under the bus” following three consecutive matches on the bench. Slot acknowledged on Monday that he had “no clue” whether the Egyptian star had already played his final game for the club. Speculation intensified when Saudi officials hinted they were prepared to make an aggressive push to sign the 33-year-old in January.
On the pitch, the match offered few moments of high quality. The closest either side came before the late spot-kick was a disallowed Liverpool goal, when Ibrahima Konaté’s header was chalked off after VAR spotted a handball by Hugo Ekitike in the build-up.
Inter, despite playing at home, rarely troubled a Liverpool team already depleted by injuries to Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo. Lautaro Martínez squandered the hosts’ best chance, directing a free header straight into Alisson’s gloves.
The win lifts Liverpool to 12 points from six games, keeping them within the top eight—crucial positions that guarantee direct entry into the last 16. Inter remain on the same tally but have now suffered back-to-back defeats in Europe and face a daunting finish: Arsenal at home followed by a trip to Borussia Dortmund.
Chelsea, meanwhile, endured a frustrating night in Bergamo. Atalanta overturned a one-goal deficit to defeat the Blues 2–1, driven by a standout performance from Charles De Ketelaere. Joao Pedro had handed Chelsea the lead with his first Champions League goal, but Gianluca Scamacca equalised after the interval before De Ketelaere powered in the winner seven minutes from time.
The loss extends Chelsea’s winless run since their 3–0 triumph over Barcelona on 25 November. They sit on 10 points after six matches, leaving Enzo Maresca’s side in a precarious position as they chase a guaranteed place in the knockouts. Their remaining fixtures—home to Pafos and away at Napoli—now carry heightened significance.
Atalanta’s victory further strengthens their impressive European campaign, which already includes wins over Club Brugge, Marseille, Eintracht Frankfurt and now Chelsea.
Tuesday’s Champions League Results
- Kairat 0–1 Olympiacos
- Bayern 3–1 Sporting
- Atalanta 2–1 Chelsea
- Monaco 1–0 Galatasaray
- Union Saint-Gilloise 2–3 Marseille
- PSV 2–3 Atlético Madrid
- Barcelona 2–1 Eintracht Frankfurt
- Inter 0–1 Liverpool
- Tottenham 3–0 Slavia Praha
Wednesday’s Champions League Fixtures
- Villarreal vs Copenhagen – 6:45 p.m.
- Qarabag FK vs Ajax – 6:45 p.m.
- Leverkusen vs Newcastle – 9 p.m.
- Real Madrid vs Man City – 9 p.m.
- Benfica vs Napoli – 9 p.m.
- Club Brugge vs Arsenal – 9 p.m.
- Athletic Club vs PSG – 9 p.m.
- Juventus vs Pafos – 9 p.m.
- Dortmund vs Bodø/Glimt – 9 p.m.
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