Should Liverpool Have Kept Szoboszlai at Home? The Case For Putting Our Foot Down
There is a familiar knot in the stomach every international break, and this one has arrived courtesy of Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungary captain rolled his ankle during the 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, yet he has still reported for national team duty. Nobody is calling the problem serious, but nobody can yet promise he will be fine either, and that uncertainty is what bothers us.
Hungary have said they will wait until the eleventh hour before deciding whether the 26-year-old plays any part against Georgia and Northern Ireland. Their medical staff will keep checking him in the meantime. From a Liverpool point of view, that is not the most reassuring update to read with a heavy winter schedule looming.
Aldridge Wants the Club to Flex Its Muscles
Liverpool pay Szoboszlai’s wages, and if they believed the ankle carried real risk, they had room to keep him on Merseyside for this window. They chose not to. John Aldridge cannot understand why. The former striker reckons the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City would not hesitate to withdraw a player in the same situation, and that any hint of doubt would see them settle the matter immediately. His frustration is that Liverpool rarely seem willing to “throw our weight around” in the same way.
Read more: Van Dijk’s next contract will be decided on merit, not sentiment
We have sympathy with that argument. Fans have watched key men head off with a knock before and come back worse, and it always seems to happen when the calendar is at its most unforgiving. One awkward landing in a qualifier can shape a whole campaign.
The Pull of Playing for Your Country
To be fair to everyone involved, it is not as simple as it looks from the sofa. Szoboszlai leads his country, and representing Hungary clearly means an enormous amount to him. Clubs that ignore those feelings risk damaging their relationship with a player they rely on.
Aldridge, to his credit, recognises that side of it. He admits he used to report for Ireland even when he was carrying injuries himself, because he knew how much those call-ups mattered. Still, he maintains that most big clubs would have stepped in anyway, and he is hoping the lack of action simply means the knock is minor.
That may well be the case. Liverpool could have decided to respect the player’s wishes and place their trust in the Hungarian medics to act sensibly. There is also time for the ankle to settle before the first game. But that does not make the gamble disappear, especially for a midfielder whose energy and pressing sit right at the heart of how Andoni Iraola wants his side to play.
The Calendar Is the Real Problem
Timing is what turns this from a minor talking point into something worth worrying about. Liverpool have a congested run of matches between now and the end of December, and losing Szoboszlai for even a couple of those would hurt. Midfield balance, rhythm and depth would all take a hit, and it would sting even more if the damage came in a game that the club could have kept him out of.
Aldridge’s closing thought sums up the mood. As he sees it, Liverpool are taking a chance here, and if Szoboszlai plays, the only option is to cross our fingers that it does not come back to bite them.
Our view is that caution should win. If he is fully fit, playing for Hungary will pass without drama and we will all have worried for nothing. If there is even the slightest question mark, though, the sensible decision is to rest him, because Liverpool need their number eight available for the long, hard weeks that lie ahead.