Match reportSzoboszlai's late penalty gives Liverpool UCL victory at San Siro

The midfielder emphatically dispatched the kick in the 88th minute of the league-phase clash to give the Reds a merited win at San Siro.

Arne Slot's side thereby moved onto 12 points from six games in the competition this term, with two further games to come in January.

Team

Slot made four changes to his starting XI in Milan, including Alexander Isak restored in attack.

Liverpool: Alisson, Gomez (Bradley, 68), Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Ekitike, Isak (Wirtz, 67).

Unused subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Kerkez, Nyoni, Ngumoha, Lucky.

First half

There was a big-occasion atmosphere as the two sides emerged onto the turf at one of European football's iconic venues.

Play was largely shadowboxing in the early stages, though, with the exchanges interrupted by an injury that forced off Hakan Calhanoglu and a hefty Lautaro Martinez tackle that left Andy Robertson requiring treatment.

Eighteen minutes were on the clock when a goalkeeper was first worked, Yann Sommer in the Inter net shuffling away efforts by Curtis Jones and then Ryan Gravenberch.

Martinez injected urgency to the Inter attack with a dart forward from which he just failed to complete a one-two with Marcus Thuram that likely would have opened up a shooting chance. Gravenberch produced a timely interception inside the Liverpool box.

Next, Hugo Ekitike was foiled at the near post by Sommer having raced onto a knock over the top and jinked around Francesco Acerbi.

The Reds had the ball in the net on 32 minutes, though ultimately to no avail.

Ekitike and Virgil van Dijk challenged at a corner and the ball fell to Ibrahima Konate to nod over the line despite an attempted clearance from Martinez.

A VAR check ensued and after the referee reviewed the incident, he judged a handball had occurred before Konate converted.

Nicolo Barella scooped a free-kick just wide at the other end and, in the penultimate of seven added minutes, the hosts went closest.

From a left-wing cross into the middle, Martinez flicked a downward header that Alisson Becker reacted well to repel.

Second half

Isak hooked off target in the fledgling moments of the second half having snuffed out Sommer's attempt to play from the back.

The Reds were enjoying an increased amount of possession and a hacked clearance was needed in front of the Inter goal when a move led to Robertson serving in a cross.

Immediately at the other end, Van Dijk had to block out a Martinez opportunity as the home team countered quickly.

Conor Bradley crafted a chance within seconds of his introduction from the bench alongside Florian Wirtz midway through the half.

The Northern Irishman chested down a long pass and picked out Ekitike inside the area, but the No.22's first-time finish was blocked by Manuel Akanji.

The same pair combined in reverse order to get Bradley on goal in the 80th minute, only for Sommer to stop his effort from a narrowing angle.

Liverpool's travelling supporters high in the stands of San Siro sensed a breakthrough was near - and right at the end, they could celebrate one.

Another VAR check judged Wirtz had been pulled back inside the area by Alessandro Bastoni, and up stepped Szoboszlai to thump the penalty past Sommer.