Liverpool players Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez were in fine form as Hungary beat Georgia 1-0 in the Nations League on Friday evening at the Puskas Arena in Budapest. The win came after a 0-0 draw with Northern Ireland days earlier.
Kerkez scored the game's only goal with a header past Liverpool team-mate Giorgi Mamardashvili, who was in goal for Georgia. Hungary captain Szoboszlai was also instrumental in the victory.
Szoboszlai impresses in deeper role
Szoboszlai has been key for Liverpool this season in his usual advanced midfield position. However, he turned heads on Friday night in a deeper lying role. This perhaps gives food for thought to Reds boss Andoni Iraola, with the No. 6 position developing into a troubling one early into the Spaniard's tenure.
Szoboszlai's versatility has already been utilised in his exploits at right-back, and the Hungarian press seem to suggest he could now offer a solution there too. Kerkez has struggled for consistency since moving to Merseyside last summer, which is more welcome news for Liverpool.
Hungarian media reaction
M4 Sport eulogised over Szoboszlai in an unfamiliar deeper role. They wrote: "It didn't go well before when the Liverpool captain played as a defensive midfielder for the national team, but this time he suited the role well, as he was able to get into the attacks thanks to his long ball possession, and in defence, the Hungarians dominated the midfield with his many possessions."
They added: "Both sides led promising actions, but the defences were the problem, so there were few serious opportunities at first, the exception being Szoboszlai's 25-metre bomb, which Mamardashvili knocked off the crossbar." On Kerkez's goal, his first for his country, they said: "The Hungarian lead was not born from this, but from the first really accurate pass, which Kerkez nodded into the goal of the Liverpool goalkeeper [Mamardashvili]."
Nemzeti Sport gave Szoboszlai a rating of seven out of 10, praising his ability to dictate proceedings. They wrote: "With two more 'fidgety' players on his side and in front of him, his speed of play could have been better. He had two shots until the 25th minute of the first half, meaning (finally!) he was in the air to find the right air corridor with the ball – well, in the second half the ball went towards the top left corner, it took a great save."
They added: "Although Milos Kerkez's header was needed for the victory, the team captain brought his best form, and he was the ace of the match." Kerkez was also handed a seven. On the full-back's display they said: "In the evaluation against the Northern Irish, our problem, our criticism was that he was overworked. Well, that was not the case this time – in fact! The right side of the Georgian defence fell asleep so nicely that the left-back scored the winning goal with a superb header."
Origo Sport praised the Hungary captain's ability to lead his country. The publication said: "Dominik Szoboszlai played a great game in the match. The Liverpool midfielder once again led the national team as a true captain, and after the match he said that in the future we need the same fighting spirit as they showed in the Nations League match against Georgia."
They also branded Kerkez as the "hero" of the encounter, writing: "The Hungarian team played excellent football in the match held at the Puskás Arena, and could have won by more goals. The hero of the Hungary-Georgia Nations League match was Liverpool's Kerkez Milos, who scored his first goal for the national team in his 35th international match."
