Dominik Szoboszlai Dreams of Budapest Final Glory

Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has revealed his desire and dream of playing in the final of this season’s UEFA Champions League, and doing so in his home country of Hungary would even be special.

The 24-year-old Hungarian captain was in imperious form for the Reds on Tuesday night at Anfield when they beat Real Madrid 1-0. His performance on the night showed why he has been Liverpool’s best player this season, with his high press, surging runs, and eye for goals, and on four occasions forced top-class saves from Thibaut Courtois in goal for Los Blancos.

Szoboszlai thought he had won Liverpool a penalty after his goal-bound effort appeared to have struck the left hand of the diving Tchouaméni; however, Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs, who initially awarded a free-kick to the Reds, controversially reversed his decision after VAR drew his attention to a potential penalty check.

Liverpool finally found a way past Courtois just after the hour mark, with Alexis MacAllister heading home from a Szoboszlai free-kick for the match winner.

After the match, Szoboszlai joined CBS Sports’ post-match coverage in the mixed zone, chatting with Jamie Carragher while Kate Abdo, Thierry Henry, and Micah Richards tuned in from the studio

Speaking about how important he has been for Liverpool this season, Szoboszlai said, “Well, thank you, but that’s a team sport, as you know as well, so I’m happy about my performance week by week and game by game, but now I think we are back on a winning track, and that’s the most important. So I’m happy that I can play in a level like that. But yeah, I just need to keep going.”

Arne Slot has played the former RB Leipzig dynamo in several positions, including right back this season as the team looks to find its rhythm. When asked which of the positions brings out the best in him, Szoboszlai reiterated that his preferred position is. “My favourite position is actually a little bit deeper. Ooh, central? Yeah, yeah. Central can’t pitch though! Yeah, I just want to be on the pitch. As you mentioned, a couple of times I’ve played right back, but as you know, that’s not my position for the future. But I think the gaffer knows that. But I have the team wherever he needs me.”

Liverpool has kept back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since September. Many have pointed out that this has coincided with their return to the usual midfield three that won them the league title last season.

“Yeah, I think we know each other since I’m here, so two years, that’s my third year. But I think the new guys also show the quality, especially today, I have to mention Flo [Wirtz], because he just kept on running, winning the balls, running back, having his chances, giving me almost an assist, so I’m sorry from here as well. But yeah, we need everybody as a whole.

“We are keeping the clean sheets, and I think that’s the most important. We had the rule of five seconds behind the ball, and I think in the last two or three games, everybody’s doing it. Yeah, I’ve said it many times, it would be a dream to play in the final in Budapest, but that’s a long way to go. We have to keep going and looking game by game, but if I could play, that would be amazing”, the no.8 finished.

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