January 1st 2024.
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has suffered a hamstring injury during the Reds' 4-2 win against Newcastle United on Monday night. The Hungarian player was replaced after 64 minutes by Ryan Gravenberch, which was one of the three changes made by Klopp.
Klopp told BBC Sport, “Dominik Szoboszlai with a hamstring, we hope not too serious. Other players felt it as well. It’s super intense. But there’s no alternative if you want to win football games.”
The Liverpool boss also added in his post-match press conference, “We wanted to take him off, that was the plan. Unfortunately it was a minute late. He felt his hamstring and we don’t know the extent.”
The extent of Szoboszlai’s injury is still to be determined, but Jamie Carragher believes that the Hungarian player could be used in a more advanced role as a replacement for Mohamed Salah while the latter is competing in the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt. Carragher told Sky Sports, “A lot of Liverpool’s attackers are right footed. They look okay on the left, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo can all do that but no one looks like they have the right balance to go on the right. A couple of options could be Harvey Elliot. I think he is more of a midfield player, he lacks pace to play in the front three but he could do it. But also Szoboszlai. Liverpool have got a lot of midfield options now with Alexis Mac Allister back, Szoboszlai has played in that position for his former club. But you can’t replace his [Salah’s] goals, that will be very difficult.”
Klopp will certainly have a dilemma in replacing Salah while he is away for the AFCON. Whatever decision he makes, he will have to hope that it pays off in the coming weeks if Liverpool is to remain at the top of the Premier League.
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