Dominik Szoboszlai said he spoke with Mohamed Salah almost every day during the Africa Cup of Nations. He refused to speculate about the Egypt forward’s future at Liverpool. Szoboszlai stressed that decisions belong to the club and the manager.
Liverpool will confirm on Tuesday whether Salah joins the squad for Wednesday’s Champions League match in Marseille. The forward recently sparked debate about his future after a candid interview. In that interview, he said his relationship with manager Arne Slot had broken down. Szoboszlai declined to offer insight into that situation.
Daily contact but no public insight
Szoboszlai said he kept constant contact with Salah after his departure on 15 December. He described their communication as frequent and wide-ranging. He said they followed each other closely and discussed many topics. Szoboszlai added that private conversations would remain private.
He said Salah would return and the team would continue working together. Szoboszlai repeated that the final call rests with the manager and the club. He avoided offering predictions about outcomes or timelines.
Slot welcomes Salah as Burnley draw shows value
Arne Slot said last week he felt happy to welcome Salah back. Liverpool’s draw against Burnley on Saturday showed why his return matters. Liverpool produced 32 shots and hit the target 11 times. The team scored once despite an expected goals figure of 2.95.
Szoboszlai also missed a penalty in that match. He said the performance showed progress against deep defenses. He said the team created many chances through crosses, shots, and box presence.
Focus shifts to Marseille challenge
Szoboszlai said Liverpool must repeat that attacking approach against Marseille. He noted that Marseille play differently from Burnley. He said they build from the back and avoid sitting deep. Szoboszlai said the team must prepare for that style.
He described the Burnley match as encouraging despite the result. He said the team finally broke down a low block through sustained pressure.
Szoboszlai answers Barnsley criticism
Szoboszlai also responded to criticism from Barnsley manager Conor Hourihane. The comments followed an FA Cup incident last week. Barnsley scored after Szoboszlai attempted a back heel inside his own box. Hourihane suggested the midfielder would not attempt that move against bigger clubs.
Szoboszlai said the past week proved difficult for him. He admitted making a mistake against Barnsley. He insisted the action showed no disrespect. He said he would attempt the same move against Arsenal, Manchester City, or Chelsea.
Penalty miss will not change mindset
Szoboszlai explained he tried to disguise a back pass rather than return the ball directly. He then missed a penalty against Burnley. He said he would keep going and take responsibility again. He said he felt confident about scoring the next one.
Saturday’s miss marked his second failure from 22 penalties. He said he remained ready to take penalties when Salah stays off the pitch. He said one attempt struck the post and the other hit the crossbar.
Contract talks and penalty hierarchy
Szoboszlai confirmed ongoing talks about a new contract. His current deal runs until 2028. He said the next penalty would go in. He added that Salah remains the first-choice taker when he returns.
He said Salah would offer advice about handling misses. He noted that Salah missed penalties before and moved on quickly. He said forgetting mistakes helps players perform better.
