Szoboszlai Discusses Salah’s Situation and His Own Challenges at Liverpool

Dominik Szoboszlai has shed light on his close relationship with Mohamed Salah, although he refrained from commenting on the Egyptian’s reportedly strained rapport with Liverpool manager, Slot. Salah, 33, recently caused a stir at Anfield with an interview in which he indicated that his relationship with the Dutch coach had significantly deteriorated.

These remarks have cast a shadow over the club, sparking rampant speculation regarding Salah’s future at Liverpool.

Despite the surrounding turmoil, Szoboszlai confirmed that his personal bond with Salah remains intact. The Hungarian midfielder disclosed that they maintained frequent communication while Salah was on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.

“Yes, to be honest, almost every day,” Szoboszlai said when asked about their contact since Salah left on December 15. “We speak about everything. I’m following him, and I believe he is following me. We talk a lot.”

However, when questioned about Salah’s potential future with Liverpool or how the internal issues may be resolved, the 25-year-old chose to remain diplomatic. “That’s between me and him,” he stated firmly regarding their private discussions. “He will come back, and then we will keep on going. It’s a decision between the manager and the club.” It remains uncertain whether Salah will be part of the traveling squad for the crucial Champions League match against Marseille, although he trained with his teammates.

While the off-field drama captures headlines, Liverpool’s performances on the pitch underscore Salah’s critical role in their sporting goals. Slot expressed his willingness to reintegrate the winger, and the team’s frustrating draw against Burnley highlighted this necessity. Despite a dominant display with 32 shots, Liverpool managed to score only once, lacking the finishing touch that Salah has provided over the years.

Szoboszlai, who missed a penalty during the match, attempted to find positives from the performance despite the dropped points. “That’s the first time we have played really well against a low block and created a lot of chances,” he remarked. “We had numerous players in the box, with crosses and shots. That is what we need to aim for against Marseille.”

He acknowledged that the upcoming European challenge would present a different tactical approach. “They don’t operate with a low block—they try to play from the back, and we must be prepared for that as well,” he added.

This has been a challenging period for Szoboszlai, who admitted to experiencing a “tough week” following a notable error in the FA Cup. During the match against Barnsley, the Hungarian committed a high-profile mistake by attempting an audacious back-heel inside his own penalty area, inadvertently gifting a goal to the opponents. Barnsley’s manager, Conor Hourihane, accused Szoboszlai of being “disrespectful,” suggesting he would never have tried such a trick against a more formidable adversary.

Szoboszlai firmly denied this allegation, asserting that his style of play does not change based on the opponent’s caliber. “Personally, it’s been a tough week,” he admitted. “I made a mistake against Barnsley, but I want to clarify that it wasn’t disrespectful, and I would attempt the same against Arsenal, Manchester City, or Chelsea.”

Elaborating on the error, he explained, “I didn’t intend to pass it back to Giorgi [Mamardashvili]. I was trying to feign a back pass.”

This “tough week” was further compounded by his penalty miss against Burnley—his second failure from the spot in 22 career attempts. Despite hitting the crossbar, Szoboszlai remains confident in his penalty-taking abilities, though he acknowledges that he will gladly step aside when Salah returns to the field.

“The next one will go in,” he asserted defiantly. “If he [Salah] comes back, he will be the primary penalty taker. He will offer me advice on handling misses, as he has experienced several himself but tends to move on quickly.”

Amid the scrutiny of his form, Szoboszlai also provided a significant update regarding his long-term future at Anfield, revealing that discussions are underway for a new contract, despite his current deal extending until 2028.