Dominik Szoboszlai hyper-extended his knee during Liverpool's 3-1 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday, and Andoni Iraola has admitted the midfielder was "not 100 per cent" at full-time — leaving Liverpool sweating over the international break and a huge run of fixtures that starts with Manchester United at Anfield.
The Hungary captain was central to the win at Selhurst Park before the problem struck. His free-kick created the opening goal for Alexis Mac Allister, and Liverpool went on to complete a 3-1 victory through Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, with Eddie Nketiah scoring a late penalty for the hosts. The result lifted Liverpool back into the Premier League top four heading into the November international break.
But Szoboszlai went down after a heavy collision late in the first half, clutching his knee. He played on after the break, yet his mobility visibly dropped, and Iraola replaced him in the 69th minute with teenager Trey Nyoni, who impressed in the closing stages and played a part in Isak's goal.
Iraola Fears a Repeat of the Last Break
Speaking after the match, Iraola made no attempt to hide his concern. As reported by Sports Mole, the Liverpool boss said Szoboszlai "definitely wasn't 100%" and that he had "extended a little bit the knee" — fine enough to finish part of the game, but not fine enough to ease anyone's mind.
"The last thing we need now is to lose players in the international games," Iraola said. "Last time, in the international break, we lost three very important players, so now I'm praying."
Anfield Index carried the same warning, with Iraola pointing to the previous break, when Liverpool lost Isak, Cody Gakpo and Szoboszlai himself. The decision now rests with two medical teams: Liverpool's and Hungary's will assess the midfielder together, and Szoboszlai — who captains his country and, by Iraola's own admission, will do everything to go — wants to play if he possibly can.
No official timeline has been given. The early assessment in the reporting is that a mild, Grade 1 problem would still mean one to three weeks of treatment, while a Grade 2 injury could mean three to six weeks out and a return only around Christmas. Liverpool have confirmed nothing beyond Iraola's comments, so those timelines remain estimates, not a club diagnosis.
So What Does It Mean for Liverpool?
The fixture list offers no mercy. Liverpool host Manchester United on November 22 in one of the biggest games of their season, then travel to Club Brugge in the Champions League on November 25, before the Merseyside derby against Everton on November 29. Szoboszlai is a doubt, to varying degrees, for all three.
The midfield cupboard is already thin. Ryan Gravenberch is dealing with a heel injury that kept him out of the Fenerbahce trip earlier this month, and Conor Bradley is still working back towards full sharpness. Lose Szoboszlai for a meaningful stretch as well, and Iraola's midfield balance, built on energy, pressing and set-piece delivery, has to be rebuilt on the fly.
There is one genuine positive: Nyoni. The 19-year-old calmed Liverpool down after coming on at Palace, won his duels and helped create the third goal. If Szoboszlai needs rest rather than risk, Iraola may decide the teenager has earned the chance to be more than an emergency option.
Beyond the Final Whistle: A 3-1 win that puts you back in the top four should feel like momentum — instead Liverpool leave London arguing with a fixture calendar they cannot control. Iraola is right to pray, but prayer is not a medical plan: the smart play is to keep Szoboszlai at Kirkby, however much Hungary's captain wants to travel. One international is not worth losing him for United, Brugge and the derby.
Should Liverpool block Szoboszlai from joining Hungary, or let their captain decide for himself? Have your say in the comments.
