Overview
- Liverpool won 1-0 at the San Siro after VAR penalized Alessandro Bastoni for a shirt pull on Florian Wirtz, with Dominik Szoboszlai converting in the 88th minute.
- Arne Slot omitted Mohamed Salah from the squad following the forward’s public criticism of the club, later saying he had “no clue” if Salah has played his last game and hinting the next step may be the player’s to take.
- The result ended Inter’s 18-match unbeaten European home run and put Liverpool on 12 points from six games, keeping them in contention for direct qualification to the last 16.
- Two major reviews shaped the match: Ibrahima Konaté’s first-half header was ruled out after a lengthy check found a handball by Hugo Ekitike, and the late penalty was given for Bastoni’s tug on Wirtz.
- The spot-kick call drew backlash in Italy, with Fabio Capello labeling it “scandalous,” reflecting ongoing debate about differing VAR standards between competitions; separately, a new UEFA rule could let Arsenal register Gabriel Jesus as an injury replacement before their sixth game.