Leeds 3-3 Liverpool: Match Review and Mo Salah bombshell
Liverpool battled to a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League with Dominik Szoboszlai scoring a late penalty.
Fabio Capello claimed the decision for Liverpool to be awarded a late penalty against Inter Milan was ‘scandalous’.
The Reds earned a 1-0 triumph over the Italian giants in the Champions League at the San Siro courtesy of Dominik Szoboszlai’s 88th-minute spot-kick. Liverpool had a goal disallowed in the first half when Ibrahima Konate nodded home from a corner, although Virgil van Dijk’s initial header was adjudged to have hit the flailing arm of team-mate Hugo Ekitike.
But VAR came to their aid in the dying embers. Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni tugged on Florian Wirtz’s shirt, with VAR recommending that referee Felix Zwayer reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor and he subsequently awarded a spot-kick.
What’s been said
But Capello could not believe that the spot-kick was given. Speaking on Sky Italia, the former AC Milan and England boss said: “It's a scandalous penalty. I don't understand why VAR had to intervene when the referee had seen everything: the obvious simulation of throwing himself to the ground. I don't understand tonight's VAR: it took them three minutes to disallow a very clear handball goal. They called the referee for pulling his shirt… that way we'd have a million penalties a game. It's a precedent and it's shameful.”
Despite the controversy, Capello was impressed by Liverpool’s performance. The Reds were one of the best teams in Europe last season and won the Premier League title comfortably.
However, their struggles have been stark this campaign after a summer squad overhaul and a spent of around £450 million. Liverpool are 10th in the English top flight, with the defence of their crown over before Christmas. As a result, pressure has build on Slot.
‘Reminded me of PSG’
The Champions League could be Liverpool’s salvation this campaign. Slot opted for more of a pragmatic approach against Inter, focusing on keeping a solid base and they took their late opportunity. And Capello claimed that the Reds’ performance reminded him somewhat of Paris Saint-Germain, who thrashed Inter 5-0 in last year’s European Cup final to claim glory.
Capello added: "I've seen Liverpool recently, and they didn't play like they did tonight. We saw a lot of intensity and good pressing. Only in the last quarter of an hour of the first half did they drop off, and Inter came out and created something.
“Liverpool reminded me of PSG, obviously with less quality than the French side. Inter made a good impression on me overall, but the substitution slots affected me, and Chivu couldn't make the changes properly.”
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