Striker Erling Haaland has expressed sympathy for Dominik Szoboszlai after the Liverpool midfielder was sent off with a red card during the chaotic closing moments of the clash with Manchester City at Anfield.
The visitors won 2–1, dealing another blow to the Reds’ hopes of finishing in the top four and strengthening their chances of closing the gap on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.
However, a strange incident occurred late on, when the entire Liverpool team pushed forward in attack, including goalkeeper Alisson.
With Alisson moving up to help his side find an equaliser, Rayan Cherki struck towards goal, while Haaland and Szoboszlai sprinted after the ball.
Szoboszlai pulled the Norwegian’s shirt, and Haaland reacted in the same way, bringing both players down as the ball ended up in the net. City initially believed they had made it 3–1, but referee Craig Pawson was instructed by VAR to review the incident, resulting in the goal being disallowed and Szoboszlai being shown a red card.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Haaland showed sympathy for his former Red Bull Salzburg teammate, insisting that the goal should have stood and that Szoboszlai should not have been punished with a red card
“For me, of course the referee has to follow the rules, but this will give him a three-match suspension and in the end I feel sorry for him,” Haaland said.
“He gets three games (suspension), just give the goal, don’t give the red card, it’s that simple.”
“But these are the rules and that’s how it is. I don’t know — in the end Cherki just passed me the ball to score, but that’s what happened.”
However, contrary to Haaland’s belief, Szoboszlai is expected to receive only a one-match suspension — the standard punishment for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
This means the Hungarian will miss Liverpool’s next match against Sunderland on Wednesday, creating another problem for head coach Arne Slot, as Szoboszlai had been covering at right-back due to injuries to Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley.
