Liverpool Receives Crucial Update on Szoboszlai's Comeback Date
Liverpool remain "optimistic" about Dominik Szoboszlai's fitness for their upcoming clash with Tottenham Hotspur this weekend, though a final determination won't be reached until Friday ahead of Saturday's match.
Szoboszlai has emerged as one of the standout performers for Arne Slot's squad this campaign, featuring in all but seven minutes across Premier League and Champions League fixtures until his forced substitution during the Brighton & Hove Albion encounter due to injury.
Currently, only Virgil van Dijk (2,070) has accumulated more playing time than Szoboszlai (2,063) across all competitions while wearing Liverpool colors in 2024–25.
Thankfully for Slot and Liverpool, early concerns about a potentially extended absence due to the ankle issue sustained in that crucial 2–0 victory over Brighton appear to have been unfounded.
The Athletic reports that following medical scans conducted this week, the Reds intend to "keep monitoring his progress closely" before reaching a verdict on the adaptable midfielder on Friday—the Tottenham fixture kicks off at 5:30 p.m. GMT (12:30 p.m. ET) the next day in north London.
Szoboszlai is believed to have "reacted positively" to the treatment provided by Liverpool's medical team and, should Saturday prove premature for his return, there's confidence he'll be available when the defending Premier League titleholders welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers on Dec. 27.
Meanwhile, Joe Gomez, Cody Gakpo and Wataru Endo continue their recovery, alongside Jeremie Frimpong, who is nearing the end of his hamstring rehabilitation. Saturday marks Liverpool's inaugural match since Mohamed Salah departed for the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt—notably, he hasn't featured in a Liverpool starting lineup since Nov. 22, allowing the squad to adapt to his absence.
Szoboszlai: Liverpool Striving 'Every Day' to Regain Momentum
Earlier this month, following their failure to secure victory for the seventh occasion during a disappointing stretch of Premier League matches after drawing with Sunderland, Szoboszlai attempted to provide supporters with assurance that Liverpool's players remain committed behind closed doors.
"To return to our winning formula, that's what we're dedicating ourselves to daily, believe me," he stated. "When you rise each morning, your mind thinks, 'Let's discover a way to triumph this weekend or midweek.' We aim to be as fluid as possible but occasionally it falls short, sometimes [rivals] devise strategies to counter us and determine how they can damage us—utilizing aerial balls, securing loose balls, playing physically, delivering crosses, exploiting set pieces, long throws, anything.
"That's what we must address and respond to. Everything needs slight adjustments and then we'll be fine. It's not functioning as effectively as we'd prefer. That's the nature of football. That's our passion for the game. Sometimes it's challenging, but difficult periods build resilience."