Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher criticized Dominik Szoboszlai for squandering a key opportunity during Liverpool’s dominant 3-0 Premier League win over Manchester United on Sunday, September 1.
Under the management of Arne Slot, following Jurgen Klopp’s exit in May, Liverpool delivered a superb performance at Old Trafford. Luis Diaz excelled in the first half with two goals, and Mohamed Salah added a third in the 56th minute, ensuring Liverpool’s superiority.
However, in the 80th minute, Szoboszlai, who had a golden chance to extend Liverpool’s lead, missed the opportunity. Instead of taking a decisive shot, the Hungarian midfielder hesitated, taking several touches within United’s penalty area before failing to score.
Carragher, commenting for Sky Sports, was vocal in his critique of Szoboszlai’s decision-making. He expressed his discontent, questioning Szoboszlai’s approach and highlighting the potential repercussions if United had scored and gained momentum. Carragher’s comments, as reported by the Mirror, included: “What is he doing? Is he trying to be cocky? If United get one back, the crowd gets up… we saw yesterday what happened to Everton [in the 3-2 loss against Bournemouth]. That’s ridiculous from Szoboszlai. That’s just ridiculous, it’s unprofessional.”
Gary Neville, another Manchester United legend, also criticized Szoboszlai, calling his actions careless. Neville stated, “He’s messing about there. He should be absolutely reprimanded by his teammates for that. That’s a liberty. It’s the sort of thing you’d do in training and get a telling off, never mind in a match at Old Trafford.”
Despite this missed chance, Szoboszlai, who joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig for £60 million last summer, had a strong overall performance. The 23-year-old midfielder completed 35 of 39 passes, provided an assist, created three scoring opportunities, and won three of his five duels during the match.
Luis Diaz, who played a crucial role in Liverpool’s win, expressed his satisfaction after the match. Diaz shared his joy with Sky Sports, saying, “I’m very happy to score goals to help the team. The most important thing is that the team is doing so well, winning games and this important game. I’m looking forward to the rest. I’m so happy to perform so well, I want to keep this rhythm and help the team all the time.”
Diaz, aged 27, had a standout performance at Old Trafford. His first goal was a well-placed header, followed by a precise first-time right-footed shot, bringing his season tally to three goals. So far, the 55-cap Colombia international has scored 27 goals and provided 14 assists in 101 appearances for Liverpool.
Liverpool’s victory was a significant early-season statement, though Szoboszlai’s missed opportunity will likely be a focal point as the team aims to maintain its momentum in upcoming matches. With the club showing promise under Slot’s management, attention will be on how Szoboszlai and the team respond to Carragher’s and Neville’s criticisms while striving for the Premier League title.
