Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai is facing a race against time to be fit for Saturday’s Premier League clash away to Tottenham after being forced off with an ankle injury against Brighton.
The Hungary international was substituted late in the 2-0 win, sparking concerns about his availability during a demanding festive run of fixtures.
Szoboszlai was withdrawn in the 83rd minute at Anfield after spending much of the match filling in at right-back following Joe Gomez’s early exit.
Speaking after the game, head coach Arne Slot confirmed the issue was related to the midfielder’s ankle and admitted initial signs were not encouraging, though he expressed hope due to the player’s resilience and mentality.
There was more caution in Slot’s assessment of Gomez, who suffered a muscle injury and is expected to miss the trip to north London.
The Liverpool boss explained that his careful management of Gomez’s minutes earlier in the season was due to concerns over his physical condition, suggesting the defender is unlikely to feature against Tottenham.
However, Liverpool have received a boost regarding Szoboszlai after further assessment. Reports indicate scans showed positive results, with the 25-year-old responding well to treatment and not expected to be sidelined for a prolonged period.
He is hopeful of being available for the Tottenham match, and if not, he is expected to return in time for the following league fixture against Wolves.
Szoboszlai’s potential absence would be a significant setback given his importance to Liverpool this season.
Only Virgil van Dijk has logged more Premier League minutes for the Reds, while the former RB Leipzig player has contributed goals and assists domestically and in the Champions League, underlining his status as one of the team’s standout performers.
Liverpool are already dealing with several absentees ahead of the Tottenham game, including Cody Gakpo, Wataru Endo, and Geovanni Leoni, while Mohamed Salah has departed to represent his country at the Africa Cup of Nations.
With the Reds sitting seventh in the table and preparing for a packed schedule, Slot will be hoping Szoboszlai can recover in time to play a key role in the coming weeks.
