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Concerns arose at Liverpool when midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai was seen hobbling off the pitch in the closing minutes of Hungary's 1–0 victory over Georgia on Friday, though manager Marco Rossi moved to ease any worries.
Szoboszlai, the cornerstone of his nation's squad, almost always sees out the full 90 minutes for Hungary. Friday's substitution marked only the fourth occasion in his last 39 international appearances that the tireless midfielder has been withdrawn before the final whistle.
His premature departure naturally sparked questions in the post-match period, but Rossi was quick to reassure everyone that there was no cause for concern.
"He was suffering from cramps and was exhausted toward the end," Rossi explained. "He put in some tremendous sprints — I'm not sure of the exact speed, but he was flying."
"We chose to deploy him as a number six for the first time. Dominik is genuinely capable of performing at a high level in virtually any attacking midfield role. He could even play right back, though we have no intention of going down that road."
Hungary still has one more match this international window, facing Ukraine on Monday. Szoboszlai is anticipated to be involved, but another key figure in the squad could be heading back to Liverpool ahead of schedule.
Liverpool Awaiting Milos Kerkez Decision
While Szoboszlai may see plenty of action for his country, left back Milos Kerkez will play no part in the Ukraine fixture.
Kerkez is set to sit out the match due to a one-game ban from yellow card accumulation, having picked up a booking against Georgia — his second caution of this international break.
Liverpool are now waiting on a final call from Rossi and Hungarian football officials regarding Kerkez's continued presence with the squad. He may be released back to Anfield early, though no official confirmation has been made.
The additional recovery time would be a welcome boost for both Kerkez and Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola, who is gearing up for the most high-profile match of his managerial reign so far. Manchester City are scheduled to visit Anfield on Oct. 11, looking to maintain their flawless start to the season against the backdrop of the club's recent guilty verdict controversy.
Liverpool remain undefeated in competitive matches under Iraola and have shown a marked upturn in form after a slow start that yielded two disappointing draws. With four wins and a draw from their last five games, Iraola heads into the clash with growing confidence — though the fitness of striker Alexander Isak, who returned from international duty with Sweden carrying an injury, could prove to be a crucial factor.