Liverpool face anxious Dominik Szoboszlai wait after knee injury
Dominik Szoboszlai could be set to miss the upcoming international break, with the Liverpool star due to undergo tests on his knee as the club face an anxious wait.
The midfielder was withdrawn in the 69th minute of Liverpool’s 3-1 victory at Crystal Palace on Sunday and Hungary have now announced he will have a scan to find out the severity of the issue.
Reds boss Andoni Iraola confirmed after the match that Szoboszlai was “not 100 per cent” after picking up a knee problem, although he set up the opening goal at Selhurst Park, delivering a free-kick for Alexis Mac Allister to convert.
Florian Wirtz scored his first Premier League goal of the season after the interval and Alexander Isak made it three before Eddie Nketiah pulled one back for the bottom-of-the-table hosts with a stoppage-time penalty.
A statement posted by the Hungarian Football Federation on social media read: “(Szoboszlai), who was substituted in the 69th minute of Liverpool’s match yesterday, is undergoing tests following the usual protocol in such cases.
“We will, of course, keep the public informed of developments as soon as possible!”
Iraola could not say what the knee issue would mean for Szoboszlai’s Nations League availability, with Hungary due to face Georgia and Northern Ireland over the next week.
He was equally uncertain about what Liverpool’s medical staff would advise, although admitted “I know what I want”, hinting that he would prefer the 26-year-old not to be involved in the international fixtures.
Speaking after the win at Selhurst Park, Iraola said: “Dom just had, I don’t know (if it was) a problem, but he definitely was not 100 per cent.
“The last thing we need now is to lose players in the international games. Last time, we lost three very important players. It’s the last thing we need, so I hope he can take care of it.
“I think he extended a little bit the knee, he was fine, but not 100 per cent.
“So he has to be careful to see if he can play with the national team or not, but also hope that it doesn’t happen like the other international break when we lost Alex (Alexander Isak), Cody (Gakpo) and Dom, so touch wood we are in a better place in two weeks.”
Iraola said Liverpool will also carry out their own assessments to get a clearer picture of Szoboszlai’s condition.
“I know that he will do everything to go because he loves playing with the national team,” Iraola said. “But he was not 100 per cent now, when he finished the game.
“I suppose they will have to analyse, their medical staff, our medical staff, and see where he is.”
Asked what he believed the Reds medical staff would recommend, Iraola replied: “I know what I want, but I also have to understand the national teams.
“Also, I am sure that if he is fine, he will want to go, but I am not sure if it is going to be fine.”
