The Liverpool midfielder wasted no time making his mark, breaking the deadlock just nine minutes into the game. Spotting space from distance, Szoboszlai unleashed a thunderous effort from around 30 yards, leaving Barnsley goalkeeper Murphy Cooper helpless as the ball rocketed into the net.
However, it turned into a night of contrasts for the Hungarian international. Despite his early brilliance, Szoboszlai was later involved in a costly error near Liverpool’s goal. A risky backheel inside his own box went wrong, allowing Adam Phillips an easy chance to score — a moment that frustrated both benches for very different reasons.
Haaland Watches On and Reacts
Haaland, who surprisingly failed to get on the scoresheet during Manchester City’s 10-goal demolition of Exeter over the weekend, was clearly tuned into events at Anfield. The Norwegian striker, a former teammate of Szoboszlai from their Red Bull Salzburg days, shared a clip of the midfielder’s goal on Snapchat.
Adding a humorous touch, Haaland captioned the post with a light-hearted message:
“Domi, what a goal. Smile a bit.”
The comment quickly caught attention, especially given Szoboszlai’s unusually muted reaction after scoring such a spectacular goal.
A Night of Highs and Lows for Szoboszlai
The lack of celebration was noticeable and slightly unexpected. While the strike wasn’t a dramatic late winner, it was still a moment of real quality that helped calm any early tension inside the stadium, particularly after Barnsley’s bright opening spell.
That said, Szoboszlai will no doubt be disappointed with his lapse in concentration that led to Phillips’ goal. Liverpool boss Arne Slot is expected to address the mistake privately, but with a busy schedule ahead — five more matches still to come this month — the midfielder will be eager to put the error behind him quickly.
Eyes on the Next Big Test
Szoboszlai and Haaland are set to cross paths again in early February when Manchester City travel to Anfield. While the clash may not carry the same title-defining weight as in previous seasons, it still presents a major opportunity for Liverpool to underline their ambitions as they push for a strong top-four finish.
If the Reds are to respond to the painful 3–0 defeat at the Etihad earlier in the campaign, they’ll need influential performances from players like Szoboszlai — just as they did during last season’s 2–0 win away to City.
One thing is certain: when these two former teammates meet again, the spotlight won’t be far away. 🔥⚽
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