Szoboszlai Discusses Salah’s Future and Team Dynamics

Dominik Szoboszlai has revealed that he communicated with Mohamed Salah almost daily while Salah was at the Africa Cup of Nations. However, he chose not to comment on the future of the Egyptian forward at Liverpool, amidst ongoing speculation regarding his position within the team.

The decision regarding Salah’s inclusion in the squad for the upcoming Champions League match against Marseille will be confirmed on Tuesday. Concerns about the 33-year-old’s future were amplified by a recent interview in which he expressed a deteriorating relationship with manager Arne Slot. Szoboszlai, however, opted to keep his thoughts on Salah’s situation private, stating, “That’s between me and him. He will come back, and then we keep on going. It’s the decision between the manager and the club.”

When asked about his interactions with Salah since the forward departed Merseyside on December 15, Szoboszlai confirmed that they had stayed in touch, saying, “Yes, to be honest, almost every day. We speak about everything. I’m following him, and I guess he is following me. We talk a lot.”

Manager Arne Slot expressed his satisfaction with having Salah back, particularly after Liverpool’s recent 1-1 draw against Burnley, which highlighted the team’s struggles to convert opportunities; the side recorded 32 shots but scored only once, despite an expected goals (xG) tally of 2.95. Szoboszlai himself missed a penalty during the match, further complicating their goal-scoring efforts.

“That’s the first time we have played really well against a low block and created a lot of chances,” Szoboszlai noted. He acknowledged the need to adapt their strategy for the upcoming game against Marseille, which is expected to be more open.

Additionally, Szoboszlai responded to accusations from Barnsley manager Conor Hourihane, who described his back-heel attempt during the FA Cup tie as “disrespectful.” Szoboszlai defended his actions, asserting, “I made a mistake against Barnsley, but I have to make it clear it wasn’t disrespectful and I would do the same against Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea.”

Despite missing his second penalty out of 22 attempts, Szoboszlai remains determined to take on the role when Salah is not on the pitch. “The next one is in. If he comes back, he is the first penalty taker. He will give me some advice on what to think about when you miss, as he’s missed a couple of times but he forgets what has happened,” he concluded, emphasizing his commitment to improvement.