UK media roundup as Liverpool fans pick between Arne Slot and Mohamed Salah

16 hours ago 25

Liverpool recorded a much-needed win at one of soccer's most iconic stadiums on Tuesday, as Dominik Szoboszlai's late penalty secured a deserved three points at the San Siro.

Liverpool was the better team throughout the game against Inter Milan, and although the penalty awarded to the Reds was soft, there was a sense of justice to it after Ibrahima Konate's first-half header was harshly ruled out for handball.

After a run of nine defeats in 12 games earlier in the season, Liverpool is now on a four-game unbeaten streak, and while that sequence includes draws against two newly promoted Premier League sides, there are suggestions that Arne Slot is steadying the ship.

There was a heavy UK media presence in Milan for the game, and this is a taste of what the written press made of Liverpool's win.

The Guardian noted how the Liverpool fans in attendance rallied behind Slot: "The first notable act of the night, given the circumstances, was the sound of Slot’s name being chanted by the sizeable Liverpool support high up with the gods. Salah’s song did not get an airing all night."

Meanwhile, The Telegraph questioned whether Salah would fit into the system that Slot deployed: a 4-4-2 formation with a diamond midfield.

"One big question here was whether Salah would actually fit into this Slot team that got a result against the second best team in Europe last year," the report read. "He tried a new system and it needed defensive discipline from every player.

"Salah has the attributes of a world-class attacker, but pinning back a full-back is not one of them."

The Athletic said: "Slot had plenty of huge victories last season as Liverpool cantered to the Premier League title, but given the past few days, this may prove to be the biggest of his reign.

"Any questions about whether he has lost the dressing room were largely extinguished as his side delivered a well-drilled, mature European away performance, full of commitment and desire against an inform Inter side that were beaten finalists in the competition last season."

Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates after putting Liverpool 1-0 up against Inter Milan

Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates after putting Liverpool 1-0 up against Inter Milan

Away from Salah-gate, The Times touched on Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike's strike partnership, after the summer signings were paired together up front from the start for only the second time.

"If the pair are to become a partnership they must offer more than they did in this match, having failed to pass to each other in the opening hour," it said.

"There were some signs of mutual understanding. That Isak prefers to attack the far post and linger for cutbacks, while Ekitike looks to move to the front post and run in behind, bodes well — they are not identical players, at least.

"But as Liverpool have found this season, what works on paper or the tactics board does not necessarily translate on to grass, and this £200 million strikeforce may require time together to develop a relationship, and time is at a premium for all managers, let alone those struggling for victories."

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