After a missed penalty and a major error, deemed ‘disrespectful’ by a rival manager, Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai admits he has had a tough week
Dominik Szoboszlai reacts after his mistake leads to Barnsley reducing the deficit in their FA Cup loss at Liverpool(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
The last time Liverpool ventured into Europe, a late Dominik Szoboszlai penalty dragged their Champions League campaign back on track and eased the pressure on Arne Slot. But as the Reds prepare to hit the Continent once again, this time a spot-kick failure from the Hungarian has increased the scrutiny on the Reds boss.
Szoboszlai’s penalty miss against Burnley on Saturday underlined Liverpool’s inability to capitalise on their domination as they were held to a costly fourth successive Premier League draw.
For the midfielder, it capped a strange week which began with a blistering FA Cup goal against Barnsley only to soon be accused of disrespect from Tykes boss Conor Hourihane for the dreadful blunder that gave the League One side hope of an unlikely and ultimately failed shock.
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Now Szoboszlai, whose spot-kick earned deserved victory at Inter in Milan last month, will hope for better fortune when the Reds take on Marseille on Wednesday evening knowing three points would put them in a strong position to qualify directly to the last 16 with one opening stage game remaining.
“For me, personally, it’s been a tough week,” he said. “I made a mistake against Barnsley but I have to make it clear it wasn’t disrespectful in my opinion and I would do the same against Arsenal, City and against Chelsea as well.
“I didn’t want to give it back to Giorgi (Mamardashvili), I wanted to keep going but I tried to pretend that I was playing it back, just to make it clear.
“(On Saturday) I missed a penalty but I’m going to keep on going, I’m going to take the next one and I’m going to score I’m pretty sure.”
On dealing with adversity, Szoboszlai added: “You have to forget it, that’s the best, but of course you have to have learned from it.
“To be honest if you see me after every session I cannot practise more – and I’m not allowed to practise more because I’m practising as much as I can. I will keep on practising and if I have another chance I will take it.
“It’s the second penalty I have missed. One time post, now crossbar. The next one is in. I have to really look, I’m watching the goalies, they are watching me so maybe I have to change.”
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Of course, Szoboszlai may in any case soon be relieved of spot-kick duties with Mohamed Salah having now completed Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt that forced him to miss Liverpool’s last seven games.
“He is the first penalty taker but until he comes back I’m the first penalty taker,” said the Hungary international. “He will give me some advice on what to think about when you miss one as he’s missed a couple of times but he keeps on going and forgets what has happened.”
Szoboszlai was in close contact throughout the tournament with Salah, who before leaving in mid-December apologised to the squad for his controversial outburst prompted by being benched for three games that then saw him dropped from the trip to Inter.
“Yes, to be honest (I was in contact) almost every day,” said the midfielder. “We speak about everything: I’m following him, I guess he is following me.
“We talk a lot (but) that’s between me and him. He will come back and then we just keep on going. He will be here and it’s the decision of the manager and the club. It is not about us, it is about him.”
Liverpool currently stand in ninth place in the Champions League table with two games remaining. Their current tally of 12 points was sufficient to secure a top 24 berth last season and a place in the play-offs, although Slot’s side are aiming to avoid that route and finish in the top eight with 16 points the likely target.
Marseille beat Newcastle United at home in November, and of the game Szoboszlai said: “It is very important. It is a big chance to take a big step towards the top eight.
“If you look at the whole season we have so many games so if you are in the top eight you miss two and that is very important. We have to be ready because we face a really good team.”
The Reds are unbeaten in their last 12 games in all competitions but saw some shortcomings again exposed against Burnley at the weekend.
“It is always a little bit the same; for five minutes we really go down and then concede a goal and from there we come back again but it is hard to score against a Premier League team,” said Szoboszlai.
“We just have to focus for 90 minutes and maybe not only for 85 and we have to learn that – everybody, each of us – and it cannot happen again. We really let it down and thought the game was won but it’s never finished until the referee whistles so that we have to keep in mind.
“It’s the first time we played really well against a low block and created a lot of chances, we had loads of guys in the box, we had crosses and shots, we had people creating chances and that is what we have to aim for against Marseille but they don’t have a low block, they try to play from the back and we have to be ready for this as well.”
