Even from the penalty spot, Liverpool managed just fine without Mohamed Salah.

After leaving the Egypt forward in England, Liverpool got a much-needed boost with a 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday morning (AEDT). Barcelona and Bayern Munich also celebrated comeback wins and Chelsea lost.

With Liverpool’s regular penalty taker Salah out of the squad following his public criticism of the club last week, Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up instead to score the 88th-minute penalty which earned a 1-0 win over one of the competition’s best-performing teams.

It was all the more valuable coming after a run of one win in six games in all competitions for Arne Slot’s under-pressure team, which moved up to eighth in the Champions League table and is now back in contention for a direct spot in the round of 16. Inter dropped to fifth.

Following the win, the attention immediately turned back to Salah’s apparent falling out with Slot and whether he would feature at the weekend against Brighton — Liverpool’s last fixture before Salah departs to represent Egypt at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

“Well, you say everyone makes mistakes in life but the question is should the players also recognise that as well? And should the initiative come from the player or me,” Slot said when asked post-match whether he’d like Salah back in his squad.

“There [were] a lot of things being said. That affects the players and the individual as well as he has been so, so influential.”

Salah’s long-time teammate Andy Robertson called the club’s current predicament “a tough situation”.

“For me, he [Salah] is one of the greatest players to play for this club. He has been unbelievable for us. I signed the same window as him and we’ve been through so many highs and lows,” he said.

“Whatever happens, happens internally. We’re all together in the changing room, and you could see that today.

“I love playing with Mo Salah and I hope to continue playing with him.”

Liverpool’s players thought they had taken the lead with Ibrahima Konate’s header in the 31st minute. After a video review that lasted several minutes, it was ruled out for handball as Virgil van Dijk had earlier nodded the ball on to the arm of Hugo Ekitike.

Having taken away a goal from Liverpool, VAR came to the visitors’ aid when it spotted that Alessandro Bastoni had tugged Florian Wirtz’s shirt in the area, with the midfielder flailing to the ground. Szoboszlai converted the penalty.