Thierry Henry was impressed by Liverpool’s ‘proper’ performance against Inter Milan but said one of Arne Slot’s key summer signings is still ‘not at the races’.
Liverpool boosted their hopes of automatic qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions League with a narrow 1-0 win in Milan on Tuesday night.
The victory not only propelled Liverpool up to eighth in the Champions League group phase but calmed some of the noise surrounding the club and Arne Slot in the aftermath of Mohamed Salah’s explosive interview.
The game looked set to end goalless after Ibrahima Konate’s first-half header was ruled out for a handball following a lengthy VAR check.
But the reigning Premier League champions were gifted a glorious chance to break the deadlock with just minutes remaining when Alessandro Bastoni was adjudged, following another VAR review, to have fouled Florian Wirtz.
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Dominik Szoboszlai rifled home from the penalty spot to give Liverpool a crucial win and extend the club’s unbeaten run to four games.
Henry described the display as a ‘proper Liverpool performance’ and said it would encourage Anfield supporters that the team were on their way back following a dismal run of nine defeats in 12 games.
The Arsenal legend was particularly impressed by ‘magnificent’ Szoboszlai but was less complimentary about Liverpool record signing Alexander Isak.
‘For me it wasn’t a penalty but you still need have to bury it and Szoboszlai did that,’ Henry said on CBS Sports.
‘He’s been one of Liverpool’s best players this season, I have to say. He was magnificent and [Alexis] Mac Allister was also very good.
‘I liked the way Liverpool played and how Arne Slot stopped Inter from playing, his tactics were on point.
‘Isak, you can see he’s still not at the races in terms of playing a whole game, but that was a proper Liverpool performance.
‘That is how you play away from home and stop your opponent from playing, I didn’t know they had it in their locker.
‘Regardless of the controversial penalty, that would have been a reassuring performance for Liverpool fans to watch.’
Isak started the match before being subbed off with around 25 minutes remaining and replaced by Wirtz, who won Liverpool’s penalty.
Much was expected of £125m Liverpool signing Isak but he has scored just two goals this season and still looks to be battling to get match fit after missing Newcastle United’s pre-season.
Despite a vital win in Milan, Slot believes his Liverpool team will need to take at least three points from their last two Champions League group games to go straight through to the knockout stages.
Liverpool visit Ligue 1 side Marseille next up in Europe before finishing their Champions League group campaign at home to Qarabag.
‘We were three points behind Inter and if you want top eight, 15 is the minimum you need,’ Slot said.
‘The best you can do is win over here. They have a really good team. But overall, a good performance from us.’
Slot’s Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk added: ‘It’s a good feeling of winning. Especially in a period we are in, trying to find consistency and something to build on.
‘Hopefully, tonight is one of those performances. It was always going to be tough. We handled the game well. It could have been a 0-0 game in the end but it ended positively for us in the end.
‘It doesn’t change anything. There’s obviously so much noise from the outside world, which is normal when you don’t perform. It’s deserved as well.
‘We want to improve, we want to be consistent and win games. We’re not doing it as much as we like. We have to stick together and be a unit as we have been. That’s what Liverpool stands for.’
On Salah’s uncertain future at the club, Van Dijk said: ‘It’s difficult but it’s a collective difficult situation that we’re all in.
‘Between Mo and the club, things are going on and he’s not here today, that’s the reality. I don’t think anything has changed in terms of our focus and determination.’
Liverpool’s next assignment is a Premier League fixture against Brighton on Saturday.
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