Liverpool manager Arne Slot secured a highly valuable and much needed 1-0 victory over Inter Milan on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, in the UEFA Champions League, providing significant vindication for his controversial decision to leave star forward Mohamed Salah out of the squad. The win at the San Siro, sealed by a late penalty from Dominik Szoboszlai, came just days after an explosive media outburst from Salah publicly criticized Slot and the club’s hierarchy. The result not only kicked Liverpool’s European campaign back into life but also firmly reasserted the manager’s authority during a difficult week for the club.

The immediate impact of the Inter vs Liverpool match was the surprising display of defensive grit from a Liverpool side missing not only the exiled Salah but also injured attackers Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa. The team, which had conceded 38 goals this season before the match, managed to shut out Inter Milan, who are Serie A's top scorers. The closest either team came to scoring before the penalty was an Ibrahima Konate header ruled out for a handball after a lengthy VAR check. The pragmatic, disciplined performance showcased qualities of concentration and determination that had been visibly lacking in recent weeks, demonstrating the squad’s capability to fight for the manager.

The strategic significance of the Inter vs Liverpool victory is directly tied to the internal Mohamed Salah saga. Slot's decision to drop Salah from the squad after he publicly stated that he felt "thrown under the bus" by the club was a major test of his leadership. The victory, secured by a Dominik Szoboszlai penalty in the 88th minute following a tug on Florian Wirtz’s shirt, provided the perfect outcome to support the manager’s tough stance. The travelling Liverpool fans loudly chanted Slot’s name both before and after the match, offering an unequivocal show of support for their coach and sending a clear message amid the surrounding drama.

Looking ahead, the future outlook for the club has shifted from crisis to cautious optimism, with the Inter vs Liverpool result providing a critical lifeline. The win moves Liverpool to a secure position in the Champions League standings, significantly boosting their chances for direct qualification to the last 16. The victory is a triumph for Arne Slot, who showed he could win in Milan without his star forward and a host of other injured players. The result confirms the club’s backing of the manager over the disgruntled star, giving Slot the authority he needs to manage the dressing room dynamics as the club prepares for the next phase of the season.