Liverpool loses Szoboszlai for the Sunderland trip after a controversial red card against Man City
Liverpool’s injury-ravaged season took another bruising turn on Sunday as Dominik Szoboszlai was sent off late in a dramatic 2 1 defeat to Manchester City, leaving Jurgen Slot scrambling for solutions once again.
The Hungarian midfielder turned emergency right back was one of the standout figures at Anfield for much of the afternoon. Thrust into an unfamiliar defensive role due to Liverpool’s mounting injury crisis, Szoboszlai delivered a moment of pure quality in the second half, curling home a thunderous free kick to give the hosts the lead and ignite the crowd.
For a brief spell, Liverpool appeared to have wrestled control of a heavyweight clash that had huge implications in the Premier League title race. That sense of momentum did not last.
Manchester City responded with ruthless efficiency. Bernardo Silva struck to level the score before Erling Haaland completed the turnaround from the penalty spot as Liverpool’s grip on the contest slipped away.
The decisive flashpoint arrived in the dying seconds, and it proved devastating for both the result and Liverpool’s immediate future. With goalkeeper Alisson pushing forward for a last-gasp corner, the ball broke at the other end, where Rayan Cherki unleashed a speculative effort towards an empty net.
As the ball rolled goalwards, Szoboszlai and Haaland tangled while chasing back. The City striker went down amid a physical tussle, and although Cherki’s shot eventually crossed the line, the goal was ruled out by VAR for a foul on the Liverpool player.
What followed stunned the Anfield crowd. Despite the goal being chalked off, Szoboszlai was shown a straight red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. The decision sparked fury among Liverpool players and supporters who felt the punishment did not match the incident, particularly given the disallowed goal.
The dismissal compounded a miserable end to the afternoon and left Slot facing yet another suspension headache at a time when his squad is stretched to breaking point.
Under Premier League regulations, a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity carries a one match ban. As a result Szoboszlai will miss Liverpool’s midweek league trip to Sunderland, ruling him out of a fixture where his versatility would have been invaluable.
The suspension is limited to that single game meaning the Hungarian could return for the FA Cup tie against Brighton on February 14 and the following league match away to Nottingham Forest. Even so the timing could hardly be worse for Liverpool.
Slot is already grappling with a severe shortage of options at right back. Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley remain sidelined through injury while Joe Gomez who has been used as cover is a doubt for the Sunderland match due to a hip issue.
Szoboszlai’s enforced absence strips Liverpool of yet another makeshift solution and forces the manager into further improvisation during a crucial phase of the season.
The sense of frustration was heightened by the fact that Szoboszlai had otherwise produced a committed and influential display far removed from his natural midfield role. His sending off transformed him from unlikely hero to unfortunate villain in a matter of seconds.
As Liverpool lick their wounds the fallout from the decision will continue to dominate debate. For Slot however the focus must quickly turn to damage control as suspensions injuries and fine margins threaten to derail a campaign already pushed to its limits