Liverpool’s run of poor results continued on Saturday after the Reds threw away leads of 2-0 and 3-2 to finish with a 3-3 draw with a Leeds side fighting to stay out of the relegation zone. As we’ve seen a multitude of times before this season, positives from the side were undone by some individual errors, allowing their opponents to get back in a match that should have been well in hand.
Despite capitulating twice in the span of two minutes to see a two goal lead evaporate, Liverpool showed some gumption we had not seen recently when the Reds carved their way through Leeds with Dominik Szoboszlai providing the finish to restore a lead. Despite the efforts and a slightly improved aggressiveness from the side, they were undone yet again by set piece frailties deep into stoppage time to drop to a draw.
After the match, Szoboszlai was asked by Sky Sports about his reaction to the bonkers second half that saw 6 goals scored. The hunky Hungarian was frustrated at the let up after being up a brace, and then giving up another goal from a set-piece.
“I don’t know what happened after 2-0, I think we thought that the game is over. We just made sure at the beginning of the game that this is the kind of game where you can never underestimate who you play against. Maybe after the penalty they just had their momentum, scored the 2-2. We came back, so it’s a good reaction from the team again. Just conceding again from a set-piece is not the nicest way.”
When asked about if the run of poor form and dastardly results is having an impact in the dressing room, Szoboszlai interestingly declined to comment, instead stating that type of information is not for the public. Szoboszlai’s comments came just before Mohamed Salah went scorched earth with his views of the situation and being dropped to the bench.
“Well, what is in the dressing room stays in the dressing room and is not for the public, first of all. But we have to manage it, we have to find solutions. I can always come up with the opportunity on Tuesday or in the Champions League or on the weekend again, but there’s also times where you have to look at yourself. Everybody go home, just think and ask yourself if you did everything what is possible. And if the answer is yes, then we just keep going and the momentum is going to come.”
The last question of the interview for Szoboszlai is one many have posed recently. Is the team that won the title last season ‘still in there’? It has been baffling to see the core of the squad remain, with some big name additions, but have such a terrible run of form. Szoboszlai says everyone in the team needs to continue to work to find solutions and take responsibility as Liverpool try to right the ship.
“It’s a good question. It’s hard to speak about it. Last year we became champion, [and] now I don’t even know which position we are [in]. Every team is doing well, obviously every team wants to win against the champions – but we knew [this] before the season as well. So, now we have to find solutions, we have to show reactions and everybody has to take responsibility, and not always the older guys or the guys who are here longer. Everybody go and show on the pitch that you’re ready to fight for this badge.”
