LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpools Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates after scoring the third goal during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 3-1.(Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpools Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates after scoring the third goal during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 3-1.(Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Dominik Szoboszlai insists his ear-tap celebration against Tottenham was “just for myself,” and not a pointed gesture after recent criticism.
Liverpool’s No. 8 came off the bench in the League Cup win over Tottenham and scored with a stunning strike outside the box before turning away to point to his ear.
It is a well-known move from players if they have been booed, criticised or targeted, but Szoboszlai told reporters, including the BBC, that it was only for himself.
“No, (the celebration was) just for myself,” he said when asked if he was trying to make a point. “I just decided before the game, and I just did it.”
While the 25-year-old reportedly asserted he was not aware of any criticism after the draw against Fulham – winning just one of his 10 duels – he did acknowledge players can have “bad days.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpools Dominik Szoboszlai scores the third goal during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 3-1.(Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpools Dominik Szoboszlai scores the third goal during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 3-1.(Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
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He explained: “This goal was for the people who are always next to me because we are also humans, so we can have bad games and we can have bad days.
“I think never ever was a player who played every game of his life [well], so there will be days also and games where I am going to play bad, but I think the most important is the reaction.
“I think I reacted quite well, and hopefully I can keep on going on Sunday against Bournemouth.”
A celebration for himself, and an acknowledgement that “bad games” happen, though it might be wise to avoid gestures that invite unnecessary micro-analysis in the future.
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai in the rain during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 3-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai in the rain during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 3-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
As for his midfield role, Szoboszlai explained that Andoni Iraola plays with a distinct No. 6, No. 8 and No. 10, with no two players expected to sit next to each other.
As for his preference, he retorted with a level of cheek, saying: “I just want to be on the pitch. Maybe I am not the best in the six position because I win one of the 10 duels, but maybe the next game I am going to win eight out of 10, so I am then a good six?
“So it’s always balance. There will be games where we are not playing at our best as a team, personally or somebody else.
“But it is always ‘leave the past and then the next one’. The reaction is what matters.”
Klopp Wirtz
Klopp Wirtz
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