By DOMINIC KING
Published: 21:00 EST, 9 December 2025 | Updated: 21:00 EST, 9 December 2025
It was almost four minutes into added when a ball bobbled along the touchline nearest to the technical areas, some 75 yards from Liverpool's goal.
For all the world, it seemed that Petar Sucic, Inter Milan's Bosnia midfielder, would advance forward, as his side frantically tried to fashion an equaliser. It wasn't to be. From the shadows, out pounced Alexis Mac Allister. He slid in, made the tackle, flattened his man and snuffed out the threat in a blur of Red.
Big deal, you might say. Midfielders make challenges like that all the time, don't they? It's what they are there to do and it's the kind of things Mac Allister has done a thousand times before. Why, then, focus on such a run-of-the-mill incident?
Simple. It was one of those moments that confirmed that a team was firmly, squarely behind its manager. From the words Mohamed Salah launched like a hail of gunfire at Elland Road, you could – if you were so inclined and easily swayed – conclude Arne Slot has lost his grip on the dressing room.
Salah is hugely influential in terms of mobilising supporters behind him and you have only had to scour social media or listen to debates in the 72 hours since the Egyptian went rogue and talked about being 'thrown under the bus', seemingly oblivious to the fact he was doing just that to Slot.
'He's got to go!' harrumphed one supporter out in Milan before kick-off, when approached for comment by Sky, his incredulity threatening to turn his face puce. Mr Angry, we shall call him, was adamant that Slot had reached the end of the line and had to be dismissed.
Liverpool's performance against Inter Milan demonstrated the squad are behind Arne Slot
Mo Salah's outburst on the weekend had raised the question of whether he had lost his grip on the dressing room
Alexis Mac Allister demonstrated Liverpool's effort with a challenge in the final seconds
Unfortunately, the world of modern football seems increasingly reliant on wild, hysterical views. Nobody, it seems, is interested in patience or thinking about big pictures or perhaps showing understanding. One week is brilliant, the next is terrible and around we go in dispiriting circles.
Even by current standards, though, the opprobrium being aimed at Slot makes you draw breath. Has he had a good season so far? No. He would be the first to admit. Liverpool's play has been anaemic too often, their underbelly too regularly exposed, their title defence has been lamentable.
Slot knows the buck stops with him and he's not a dreamer. He was sacked once before, by AZ Alkmaar, having done a fine job and he knows sentiment doesn't mean a thing when multi-million pound deals are on the line and hard-nosed businessman find their investment threatened.
But everyone seems to have lost sight of the fact Fenway Sports Group want Slot to thrive and continue to lead Liverpool forward. When Julian Nagelsmann was linked to Slot's role last month, there was instant incredulity and firm messaging: we aren't looking for a manager.
Yet plenty would like them to do just that. Mr Angry and more of his ilk would have you believe Slot is the luckiest man on earth, that he moved into Jurgen Klopp's seat and did nothing other than watch on as Liverpool skipped to their 20th title.
Such a stance is as nonsensical as it is insulting. Slot has consistently been outstanding, a personal memory of his influence came in a 2-2 draw against Fulham at Anfield 12 months ago when his tweaks and bravery enabled Liverpool, down to 10 men, to climb off the canvas twice.
Now, however, he is being discussed in tones of such anger and with such a lack of respect, you wonder whether the empty vessels who are making this noise remember the days of Roy Hodgson and the Liverpool team he coached that was knocked out of the League Cup by Northampton.
That was only 15 years ago, the same campaign in which Liverpool were beaten at home by Blackpool, were humiliated at Goodison Park by Everton and were on the brink of financial combustion; Tom Hicks's passing on Sunday was a reminder of how things were.
Liverpool may have been fortunate with the awarding of their penalty but they were not lucky winners
Liverpool's big characters, including Alisson Becker, delivered when required at the San Siro
Slot knows tough times and questions are coming, but victory helped him to restore order
So before the assault continues on Slot, it would be prudent for his critics to re-watch this 90 minutes in the San Siro where it was No Salah, No Problem. This was a classic Liverpool performance, full of heart, tenacity and a commitment to stick to a meticulous game plan.
You can rightly say there was some fortune in the awarding of the decisive penalty but Liverpool were not lucky winners. They started with purpose, they stood up tall when they had to do and big characters, not least Alisson Becker, delivered when required.
Had there been any doubt about Slot, had there been any cracks in the squad's make-up, they would have been exposed by an Inter team unbeaten at home in three years. Ultimately, they fought, they listened and they flourished after the most dramatic 72 hours of the campaign.
'All the players showed a lot of commitment to the game plan,' said Slot. 'What it means to me? It means a lot. But it's not about me. It's about the team. It shows you one more time that if there is hard time, we are there for each other and we fight for each other. Tonight is all about the players.'
Slot knows that more hard times and difficult questions are coming; he will see Salah on his return to the AXA training camp and there simply must be a conversation between the pair; if Salah has sense, he will apologise immediately and then go public to say he has done so.
Had Liverpool gone under in the Giuseppe Meazza, you might have started to think Salah's words carried substance. As it turned out, a little bit of order was restored. It wouldn't have happened if the rest of the squad didn't have respect for Arne's authority.