‘Sobbing’ Andoni Iraola blamed for Liverpool’s latest injury blow

‘Sobbing’ Andoni Iraola blamed for Liverpool’s latest injury blow Dominik Szoboszlai Injury Latest as Hungary Face Nervy Wait Dominik Szoboszlai’s fitness has become a genuine issue for Hungary ahead of this month’s Nations League fixtures, and there is no point dressing it up. The Liverpool midfielder has arrived in camp carrying a knee sprain, and the decision over whether he can feature is expected to go down to the wire. The 26-year-old was assessed by Hungary’s medical staff after joining the squad in Telki on Monday evening. That alone tells you plenty. When a captain arrives and the first priority is medical evaluation, optimism is already in short supply. Szoboszlai has had a stop-start period with injuries already. Earlier in the season he missed five Liverpool matches with a hamstring problem following the September and October international window. He had only just made it back into the matchday squad for the Premier League defeat to Arsenal, and now he has another problem to manage. Hungary have confirmed that the issue stems from the knee sprain he suffered in Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on November 8. Their position is straightforward enough, a final call will “almost certainly only be made at the last minute”. That leaves Hungary in limbo before the trip to Georgia on Saturday, November 14, and the home meeting with Northern Ireland at the Puskas Arena on Tuesday, November 17. Photo: IMAGO Hungary concern grows around Szoboszlai injury There has also been criticism back home over how the situation was handled. Former Hungary captain and manager Janos Csank did not hold back. “I was really annoyed. Szoboszlai went down on the pitch in the first half, and at half-time I was certain he wouldn’t come back on for the second half,” he said. He continued, “Then I saw him standing there on the pitch, with black tape on his leg, his knee. Then the manager starts sobbing that he is injured. He should have been substituted straight away, they were leading 1-0.” It is a fair criticism if the concern was obvious at the break. Szoboszlai received treatment before half-time at Selhurst Park, played on with his knee strapped, and only came off in the 69th minute, replaced by Trey Nyoni. Andoni Iraola left balancing risk and availability After the game, Andoni Iraola said the midfielder was “fine, but not 100 per cent”, before adding: “The last thing we need now is to lose players in the international games.” That line lands awkwardly enough given what followed. Liverpool have already seen players return from international duty with fitness issues, including Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Szoboszlai himself earlier in the campaign. Nobody at club or international level needs another avoidable problem. Marco Rossi weighs replacement options Hungary manager Marco Rossi now has to decide whether to risk his captain or go another way. Vasas midfielder Jozsef Urblík has been mentioned as a possible alternative, and he is clearly under consideration if Szoboszlai cannot get through the final checks. There is something tangible on the line. Hungary are second in League B Group 2 with seven points from four matches, one behind Northern Ireland. Top spot means promotion to League A, second place means a promotion play-off in March. Szoboszlai’s availability could have a direct bearing on that equation, and for Liverpool, it is another anxious wait before the return to Premier League action against Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday, November 22.