The key now is for Liverpool to push on. After a disastrous run of nine defeats in 12, they are unbeaten in their last four and seemingly out of the toughest phase.
Inevitably, Slot was asked about Salah afterwards, with former Dutch international midfielder Clarence Seedorf suggesting to him players can “make mistakes”.
“Everyone makes mistakes in life but does the player know he’s made a mistake? Should the initiative come from him or me? That’s another question,” said Slot.
Van Dijk, meanwhile, would not be drawn on whether his team-mate had let the side down.
“There is no point me saying if someone has let someone down,” he said. “He didn’t travel based the consequences of what he said. That’s it.
“He trained yesterday perfectly normal. Let’s see when we come back on Friday and see what the situation will be like. My focus is on the team and at this point Mo is still part of the team. We will see what happens.”
But this was a night to praise those who played, particularly Szoboszlai, who has been directly involved in more goals than any other Liverpool player this season (10 – five goals, five assists).
“I have asked a lot of him,” Slot added. “I think what is also special is how much he runs – he is one of the few that played all four games in 10 days.
“It’s special what he is doing physically and also football wise, he stood up in a difficult moment.
“That was his first penalty for Liverpool during a game but he has a great shot and he delivered.”
Winning in Milan is no easy feat, considering Inter had been unbeaten in their last 18 Champions League ties at home
“It should be about what we’ve done over here,” added Slot. “I fully understand that on Friday, in the press conference, all the questions will be about Mo.
“Tonight it should be all about a team, against a team like this who are winning at a stadium like this. The focus should be on that.
“Tonight it should be all about the players that are here. In the rich history Liverpool has had, they have had many of these evenings.”
Proof, if it was ever needed, that with or without Salah, Liverpool will move on.
