On-the-whistle analysis from Paul Gorst as Liverpool beat Inter 1-0 at San Siro in the Champions League
If poor decisions are said to even themselves out over the course of a season, referee Felix Zwayer proved one of football’s oldest maxims to be true across the course of 90 minutes here at San Siro.
Having ludicrously taken close to five minutes to decide that Hugo Ekitike had inadvertently handled Virgil van Dijk’s header to rule out Ibrahima Konate’s opening goal in the first period, the official eventually made it 1-1 for head-scrathing calls later in the game.
Substitute Florian Wirtz, who was perpetual motion throughout his second-half cameo, went to ground with the kind of dramatic flourish that didn’t even initially earn the dignity of a glance from the referee.
However, a check with the monitor revealed that there was a slight drag on the Germany international by Alessandro Bastoni, leading to one of the softest penalties Liverpool will be awarded this season.
But when the chips are down and the luck is out, this is the sort of lifeline that must be grasped on to with the firmest of grips. Dominik Szoboszlai, once more one of the best players in red, dispatched with aplomb to give Arne Slot a major victory when he most needed it.
This, after days of discussion and mountains of column inches, was not about Mohamed Salah. The Egypt superstar was left at home, stewing in his own juices after that incendiary post-match interview at Leeds United.
And after what is just a fifth win in 16 games now across all competitions, Slot and his players have to use this as a springboard out of the mire they have found themselves in since late September.
At a time when the head coach is under-fire, the players are out of sorts and the entire club is engulfed by negativity, this was exactly what was needed. It was a defiant response from a squad with its back to the wall.
Victory against Real Madrid last month by the same scoreline proved to be a mirage but this has to have tangible after effects now for Liverpool and Slot. Their fortunes might just have changed here with the awarding of the decisive penalty, but the form has to now follow.
