Liverpool faced a disheartening 3-1 defeat against Arsenal on Sunday, and the absence of Dominik Szoboszlai had a massive part to play in it.
The PL table-toppers clashed with Arsenal in a potential title-deciding match at Emirates Stadium. But their trip to North London did not pay very well as they suffered a massive 3-1 beating.
This meant that after 23 matches, the Merseysiders were left with the same 51 points they acquired before the match. But the Gunners, with the 3 points collected, reduced the 5-point gap to 2.
Even though there were plenty of talking points as to where the Reds went wrong, one of the main reasons was Dominik Szoboszlai‘s absence.
Klopp’s Headache as Liverpool Miss Five Key Players in Arsenal Clash: Report
Before the match, manager Jurgen Klopp shared an update about the Hungarian’s situation in the pre-match interview on Sky Sports.
“Dom felt in the same area, or pretty much a similar area, to where he was injured before.
Not in the game, he was fine, and then after the game [he felt it] slightly so we had a look at it and there was now no chance for him to be involved in this game.
We cannot take any risk. We have to wait for further assessment but it was clear that he cannot be involved today. That’s it, pretty much.”
Klopp stated.
Midfielder’s Early Return Shakes Up Liverpool’s Lineup Choices
How The Absence of Dominik Szoboszlai VS Arsenal Affected Liverpool
Dominik Szoboszlai made his first start since New Year’s Day, after recovering from a hamstring issue, in midweek when the Anfield giants thrashed Chelsea 4-1.
He had a really good game as he scored the third goal for the team while completing 3 shots, 2 key passes with a 90.7% pass completion rate within the 69 minutes he was on the pitch (stats via Whoscored).
The 23-year-old earned an 8.24 rating for his performance, and it looked like he was really back into business. But the injury update put all those hopes aside, and the LFC midfield was under threat.
Brighton’s Rising Force Touted for Managerial Role: Why Manchester City Might Be a Better Fit
Youngster Ryan Gravenberch started instead of Szoboszlai, and his performance was not at all satisfactory.
The Dutch midfielder acquired a 6.30 rating for the 58 minutes he played. He only completed 2 dribbles and played a total of 14 passes with an 85.7% successful passing rate (stats via Whoscored).
The midfield was the region where the hosts dominated the game. Even though they only had 42% possession, their midfield was relentlessly won balls and continued to create chances.
Gravenberch’s deputy Harvey Elliott also was not able to impress in the short time he was subbed on.
French Star’s Premier League Snub: The Real Madrid Tug-of-War Unfurls
The midfield has been one of the most reliable departments of Liverpool in recent times. But the lack of willingness and creativity put them in the backseat yesterday as Arsenal charged for the title.
However, the imminent return of Dominik Soboszlai could benefit LFC in the coming games.
An ardent football fan and a proud Red. I take immense pleasure in analyzing the intricacies of the game.
