Dominik Szoboszlai has dismissed the idea that Liverpool should become more streetwise in the wake of the penalty controversy involving Alexander Isak during the 1-0 Premier League defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.
Isak was denied what appeared to be a clear spot kick in the first half at Anfield when his shirt was pulled by Gunners defender Jurrien Timber as he attempted to head a Bradley Barcola cross. Referee Andy Madley did not spot the incident, and VAR Stuart Attwell saw no indiscretion, prompting Reds boss Andoni Iraola to later suggest he might tell his players to go to ground to highlight a foul.
Szoboszlai acknowledged that officials may prefer such an approach, but he regards it as not being in the nature of this Liverpool team.
Szoboszlai on the penalty decision
“It’s a penalty,” he said. “I don’t know what they expect from us: to dive or something. I don’t think we are the type of team or players to do that but from now on we might need to do it.”
“If Alex falls down it’s a clear penalty. Timber doesn’t really care about the ball and maybe if he doesn’t pull Alex’s shirt Alex can head it in the goal. We are just one penalty less and that’s a big difference.”
Asked whether Liverpool should be more streetwise, Szoboszlai added: “It is not our type of play. I don’t think in this moment you can think this way that ‘oh, let me wait for someone touching me and I’ll fall down’.”
“No, he is focusing on the ball and he wants to head the ball in the net. But if you interfere with your hand on his back then he might not do it, then you take a chance from his point of view and it’s a penalty.”
“Everyone sees it differently but I don’t think you can see this one different.”
Szoboszlai returns from injury
Szoboszlai made his comeback from injury as a substitute shortly before the hour, replacing 19-year-old midfielder Trey Nyoni, who was making his first-ever Premier League career start.
The Hungary international had missed the previous three games with a hamstring issue he aggravated during a brief appearance at Brentford after already being out for two matches. The 26-year-old is adamant he is now free of any injury niggles after intimating he had rushed himself back too early from the initial problem.
“The worst thing is to be injured and watch the guys from the stands or on TV,” said Szoboszlai. “I’m happy to be back, feeling good, feeling fit, and ready to go again on Wednesday.”
“Did I come back too soon? It stays secret. It’s very hard, you know. I’m the type of player, as you might know, that the last three seasons I want to play every 90 minutes but sometimes your body says ‘rest a little bit’ and my body told me to ‘stay calm, you’ve had enough games now’.”
“I missed games against (Manchester) City and LASK and then I felt again very good after a couple of days off but it seemed I wasn’t ready but sometimes it is my heart and I listen to my heart and not my body.”
“The plan to come in (from the bench). I was actually ready from the start but I’ve played 30 minutes and let’s see from now on.”
Midfield role and upcoming fixtures
Szoboszlai has already featured in a variety of midfield positions during nine games under Iraola this season and has also had a brief spell at right-back, with Nyoni’s emergence adding to the competition for places in the engine room already provided by Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch.
The Hungarian is likely to start in Wednesday’s Champions League clash at Fenerbahce, with Iraola expected to once again ring the changes with Liverpool in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages.
Of his suitability playing under the new Reds head coach, Szoboszlai said: “It depends where he puts me. In a six he might ask me different stuff, as a 10 he might ask me different stuff as an eight.”
“I only know (just) before the game what I’m going to play, so from there is only one-and-a-half hours to discuss with him the stuff he wants to do in the game and how he wants you to play.”
“He wants to go most of the time one-v-one, don’t let them play. We have big guys at the back so if the long ball comes we can win it with Ronald (Araujo), Jeremy (Jacquet) and Virgil (van Dijk). This fits us, we just have to get used to it.”
Asked if Iraola can get the best out of him, Szoboszlai responded: “Yes, of course he can. My best position is hard to say because there are games where we have the ball more so I like to have the ball more as a six, getting the ball from Virgil and doing stuff from there.”
“As a 10 I think I can also be dangerous, as an eight. Wherever he puts me I try to do my best.”
