Dominik Szoboszlai delivered a powerful response to recent criticism with a stunning late goal in Liverpool's 3-1 victory over Tottenham. The Hungarian midfielder, a vice-captain at Anfield, scored a contender for goal of the season to seal the three points on Tuesday, moving the Reds to 8th in the Premier League with six points from four games.
His celebration, putting a finger to his ear, was interpreted by many as a message to his detractors. Szoboszlai clarified his actions after the match. "You know this goal was for the people who are always next to me," he said. The 25-year-old acknowledged that every player experiences off days, referencing his subdued performance in the previous weekend's 0-0 draw with Fulham.
Reaction is what matters
Szoboszlai emphasised that trust and reaction are more important than any single performance. "Was there criticism? I didn’t know, I didn’t see but thanks for telling me," he remarked with a smile. He stressed that his focus remains on contributing positively, whether deployed in a deeper or more advanced midfield role, and that the team's balance and collective response are key. Liverpool's form shows they are building momentum, unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions with a record of three wins and two draws.
The win against Spurs, with goals also from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo, provides a solid platform ahead of a trip to face 15th-placed Bournemouth this weekend. Szoboszlai's strike, assisted by Gakpo in the 91st minute, was his first of the campaign and a timely reminder of his quality as Liverpool look to close the six-point gap to league leaders Arsenal. The squad's current standings and statistics are available on our standings and stats pages.
First reported at Daily Mail Sport
