Liverpool will be without Dominik Szoboszlai for Wednesday’s trip to Sunderland after he was sent off against Manchester City.
The Hungarian provided the best moment of the game for the Reds, smashing home an audacious free-kick to put them ahead.
But barely 15 minutes later the game had swung completely for Liverpool, with Szoboszlai‘s bizarre red card the icing on a particularly gruesome cake.
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Marc Guehi pictured in action during Manchester City's Premier League match against Liverpool at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA
It was a decision which left just about everyone scratching their heads. Szoboszlai was given his marching orders for denying Erling Haaland a goal-scoring opportunity as Rayan Cherki’s long-range effort dribbled into the net.
It would have been in Szoboszlai’s, Liverpool’s and City’s interests for referee Craig Pawson to simply allow the goal. But after VAR intervened, the Reds’ No. 8 was given a one-match ban. Speaking on the strange decision after the game, Arne Slot claimed that Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris will have been the only one interested in seeing Szoboszlai dismissed.
Sunderland happy with Dominik Szoboszlai dismissal
It is not only the fact that Szoboszlai has been arguably Liverpool’s player of the season which makes his absence against Sunderland such a blow.
Without Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong or Joe Gomez, the 25-year-old is currently the Reds’ starting right-back. After the game, Slot confirmed that Frimpong and Gomez will miss Sunderland as well, suggesting that Szoboszlai’s enforced unavailability will suit Le Bris and nobody else.
Dominik Szoboszlai fouls Erling Haaland and is sent-off during Liverpool's Premier League match against Manchester City at Anfield.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
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“I can live with the fact, although I don’t like it, that the referee follows the rulebook and Dominik makes a foul on Haaland in that last situation, which is a clear shirt-pull and he was through to goal so he would have scored. So that’s a red card,” he said.
“And I think the Sunderland manager is really happy that he gives the red card. So that’s the rulebook and you follow the rulebook.”
With options taking an even further hit, it will be fascinating to see what Slot chooses to do on Wednesday.
How many points are we getting from the next five? 😑
Arne Slot pictured before Liverpool's Premier League match against Manchester City at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images).
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Who will play right-back for Liverpool vs Sunderland?
Liverpool were already heading to Sunderland in pretty miserable shape this midweek, but Szoboszlai’s absence makes them likely to be even more of a soft touch.
The Black Cats are unbeaten at home since returning to the Premier League this season and it feels incredibly unlikely that Liverpool will be the team to end that run.
In terms of the right-back situation, supporters will have little sympathy with Slot and the club as a whole after they failed to address what was already a clear problem in the January window.
The Reds are now going to have to rely on another out-of-position player, which is likely to be Curtis Jones.
Jones has played there before, and although he’s not as robust as Szoboszlai up and down the wing, he is the best Liverpool have right now.
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