Hungary’s last-minute call on Szoboszlai is the last thing Liverpool needed
The international break was supposed to be a chance to catch breath. Instead, Liverpool fans are once again watching anxiously from afar, with Dominik Szoboszlai nursing a knee sprain in the Hungary camp and nobody prepared to say whether he will play.
The 26-year-old was checked over by the national team’s medics as soon as he reported to Telki on Monday evening. When the first job on a captain’s arrival is a medical assessment, you know the mood is not exactly upbeat.
Another setback in a stop-start season
This has not been a smooth campaign for Szoboszlai physically. A hamstring problem picked up around the September and October international window cost him five Liverpool games, and he had only just worked his way back into the matchday squad for the Premier League loss to Arsenal. Now there is a fresh issue to manage.
Read more: Waiting game over Szoboszlai’s ankle tests Liverpool’s patience
Hungary have confirmed the knee problem dates back to Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace on 8 November. Their line is that a decision will almost certainly be left until the very last moment, which leaves everyone in limbo ahead of Saturday’s trip to Georgia on 14 November and the visit of Northern Ireland to the Puskas Arena on Tuesday 17 November.
Criticism back in Hungary
Not everyone in Hungary is impressed with how this was handled. Janos Csank, a former captain and manager of the national side, was openly irritated. He explained that when Szoboszlai went down in the first half he assumed the midfielder would not reappear after the interval, and was stunned to see him back out with his knee strapped in black tape. In his view, with the team already a goal to the good, the sensible move was to take him off straight away rather than complain about the injury afterwards.
We think he has a point, at least if the problem was as obvious at half-time as he suggests. Szoboszlai was treated before the break at Selhurst Park, carried on with the strapping, and was not replaced until the 69th minute, when Trey Nyoni came on.
Iraola’s balancing act
After the game Andoni Iraola described his midfielder as fine but short of full fitness, and stressed that losing players on international duty was the last thing Liverpool could afford. Those words look rather uncomfortable now.
It is also part of a wider pattern. Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo have both come back from international duty with fitness concerns this season, as did Szoboszlai himself earlier on. Neither club nor country needs another problem that could arguably have been avoided.
What it means for both sides
Hungary boss Marco Rossi now has to weigh up whether to gamble on his skipper or plan without him. Vasas midfielder Jozsef Urblik has been touted as a possible stand-in should Szoboszlai fail his final checks.
There is real jeopardy for Hungary. They sit second in League B Group 2 on seven points from four games, one behind Northern Ireland. Finishing top brings promotion to League A, while second place leads to a play-off in March. Their captain’s availability could swing that race.
From our side, the hope is simple. Whatever happens in Georgia and Budapest, we want Szoboszlai back in one piece for the visit of Manchester United to Anfield on Sunday 22 November. Our take is that if there is any doubt at all, the risk is not worth taking, and the next few days will tell us whether Hungary see it the same way.