- Dominik Szoboszlai unhappy with performance
- Calls for more focus from Liverpool players
- Not thinking about next season, just yet
Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai was not happy with Liverpool’s performance in the 3-2 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Starting Sunday’s clash against the Red Devils, the Hungarian midfielder once again proved why he’s the man of the hour with a truly dominant performance.
Despite Liverpool trailing 2-0 following strikes from Matheus Cunha and Benjamin sesko, he single-handedly dragged his side back into the contest. He sparked the second-half revival by clinicaly netting the opening goal, before turning provider just minutes later with a brilliant assist for Cody Gakpo’s equaliser.
Arne Slot’s side managed to go from 2-0 down at the half-time whistle to 2-2 in the first 11 minutes of the second half, but failed to capitalise. Kobbie Maioo scored in the 77th minute to make it 3-2 to the home side, and they held on for all three points in the game.
Dominik Szoboszlai hits out at Liverpool players
Szoboszlai spoke to Sky Sports after the match, admitting it was tough to leave Old Trafford without a point. He added that the first-half performance was not good enough, and that was a key reason they failed to get anything from the game.
“Not good, as we go home with zero points. And after the first half we shouldn’t be happy at all, we should just take from this game the beginning of the second half I think because that’s when we showed properly who we are.”
The midfielder went on to talk about the set-piece defending as an issue, adding that they need to work on it. He admitted that it has been a key reason why they have not done well this season and said:
“Before the game you speak about set-pieces, don’t concede; I don’t know when the first goal happened, you concede from a set-piece. Also you talk about counter-attacks and then the second goal happens from a counter-attack. We have to be more focused, we have to take more care of the details and in the end hopefully the luck is going to stay on our side.”
The Anfield side have conceded 17 goals from set-pieces this season, their joint-most in a single Premier League campaign.
Szoboszlai not thinking about next season
Szoboszlai was quizzed about what the club needs to work on ahead of next season, and he was quick to rebuff the question. He insisted that the players need to work on the remaining three matches of the Premier League season and said:
“First, I don’t focus on next season – my focus is on these three games because we have a lot of things to achieve in a way that we want to play Champions League next season because Liverpool belongs there. And then we will see what happens in the future. Hopefully this team can stay together as much as is possible and from thereon we will see.”
Liverpool are fourth in the Premier League table after 35 matches, and are yet to secure their place in the UEFA Champions League next season.
Despite his individual brilliance on the pitch, the 25-year-old post-match reflections serve as a sobering reality check for a Liverpool side struggling with consistency.
While his goal and assist at Old Trafford briefly reignited hope of a dramatic comeback, they ultimately couldn’t mask the recurring defensive lapses and set-piece frailties that have haunted the Reds throughout the campaign.
With three games remaining and a Champions League berth still hanging in the balance, the message from the Hungarian is clear: there is no room for forward-thinking or “next season” optimism until the current job is finished.
For Arne Slot’s men, the final stretch of the season will be a test of mental fortitude requiring the focus and attention to detail that Szoboszlai knows is currently the only thing standing between Liverpool and their European ambitions.
