Breaking: Salah left out of Inter vs Liverpool as rift erupts on matchday
Salah left out, the rift comes into the open
I can confirm Mohamed Salah has been omitted from Liverpool’s 19-man squad for tonight’s Champions League trip to San Siro. He did not travel. The decision follows a sharp fallout with manager Arne Slot after the weekend benching and the forward’s public criticism of the situation.
This is not a minor disciplinary tweak. Senior figures at the club have backed the manager’s call. The message is clear, team standards first, even with the club’s biggest star. The timing is dramatic. Liverpool face a must-get-something night in Milan. The stakes could not be higher, and the dressing room knows it.
Inside the camp, the tone is firm. Slot is not wavering. Leadership has aligned behind him for this match. That unity around the decision raises new questions about Salah’s short-term role, and about the power lines in a squad built around him for years.
What it means on the pitch tonight
Without Salah, Liverpool lose their most reliable finisher and outlet on the right. They also lose their first pass in transition. Slot must rebuild the front line with craft and pace, not just star power. Expect Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez to carry the threat. Harvey Elliott can tilt right to provide ball security. Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister become key to ball progression and set pieces.
The shape matters. Liverpool need control in midfield to limit counters, and bite on the press to keep Inter pinned. The Reds are also without Federico Chiesa and Cody Gakpo, so depth is thin in attack. That increases pressure on fullbacks to create. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s delivery and timing will be crucial. The bench will skew young. Trust and tempo must come from the start.
Inter arrive in stride. They have won four of five in this group. They are unbeaten in their last 18 UEFA home matches. Lautaro Martinez is hunting everything in the box, and he has been ruthless at home this season. If Inter tilt the game to the flanks, Liverpool’s back line must defend the second ball with total focus.
Inter are unbeaten in 18 straight UEFA home games, and Lautaro has been on a home scoring surge. Control crosses, or pay for it.
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The stakes in Milan
This is matchday 6. Inter can all but punch their ticket with a win. A draw might also do the job depending on the other result. Liverpool need a result to keep their Champions League campaign alive. Three points would change the mood overnight. A loss could trigger a December crisis.
The recent numbers are blunt. Liverpool have scored only twice from 44 shots in their last two Champions League matches. That tells a story of waste and hesitation in key moments. It also explains why Slot is pushing collective discipline over individual drama.
Liverpool’s conversion has cratered in Europe. Two goals from 44 shots across the last two UCL games. The final touch must improve tonight.
Culture, control, and the manager’s moment
This is also about identity. Liverpool’s European image is built on unity, pressing, and big-night bravery. Leaving out Salah, the face of that era, is a hard reset. It is Slot backing process over personality in full view of the continent.
San Siro on a cold night brings its own energy. The banners, the drum, the noise. Inter feed off it. The Reds have to answer with poise. If Liverpool find a foothold early, their back four can step higher and the midfield can squeeze Inter’s supply lines. If they concede first, the weight of the week may rush in.
Watch the opening 15 minutes:
- Can Liverpool break Inter’s wing supply and stop early crosses
- Will Nunez and Diaz pin Inter’s back three deep
- Can Alexander-Arnold and Robertson deliver clean set pieces
- Does the midfield win loose balls on the edge of the box
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is Mohamed Salah not in the squad?
A: He was left out after a fallout with manager Arne Slot. The player did not travel to Milan.
Q: Who replaces Salah in attack?
A: Expect a mix of Diaz, Nunez, and Elliott to carry the front line. Midfield creators will also step up.
Q: What time is kickoff?
A: Kickoff is scheduled for 20:00 GMT, 21:00 CET at San Siro.
Q: What does Liverpool need to advance?
A: Liverpool need a result tonight. A win puts them in strong contention to progress, a loss puts them at serious risk.
Q: Is Arne Slot under pressure?
A: Yes. The decision has club backing, but the result and performance tonight will shape his near-term stability.
Conclusion
Inter smell opportunity. Liverpool arrive in a storm of their own making. Leave out your top scorer, and you better deliver a collective performance. San Siro will test resolve, structure, and nerve. If Liverpool rediscover their edge, this can be a season-shaping night. If not, the fallout will be louder than the Curva Nord. Kickoff is nearing. The story is about to move from words to actions.
