The atmosphere at Anfield was toxic. As the rain lashed against the touchline, the final whistle cemented a dismal 1-1 draw against a resilient Burnley side. For Liverpool fans in January 2026, this wasn’t just another result—it was a pattern.
In the post-match press conference, Arne Slot didn’t look like his usual composed self. His eyes were cold, and the calm facade he’d maintained since succeeding Klopp had finally shattered. When asked about the decision to start Dominik Szoboszlai, who had missed a critical first-half penalty and struggled to find his rhythm, Slot didn’t hold back.
The Breaking Point
“I gave him the chance today to show he belongs here,” Slot began, his voice barely a whisper before rising in intensity. “But he showed me he doesn’t care about this club. My biggest mistake was starting him.”
The room went silent. Szoboszlai, once the engine of the midfield, had looked a shadow of himself throughout the match. While Florian Wirtz had dazzled with a stunning goal in the 42nd minute, Szoboszlai’s missed spot-kick and lackadaisical tracking back for Marcus Edwards’ equalizer had cost the Reds dearly.
A Tale of Two Midfielders
The story of the match was one of squandered opportunities and a growing rift in the dressing room.
* The Spark: Florian Wirtz, the German sensation, had done everything to drag Liverpool to victory. His strike into the top corner seemed enough to break the curse against promoted sides.
* The Shadow: In contrast, Szoboszlai seemed disconnected. He gestured at teammates rather than making runs, and when the penalty was awarded after a foul on Cody Gakpo, his effort off the crossbar felt like a metaphor for his recent form.
* The Equalizer: In the 65th minute, Burnley’s Marcus Edwards broke through. Szoboszlai was seen jogging back as the counter-attack surged past him. Alisson was left exposed, and Anfield fell silent as the ball hit the net.
The Fallout
As Slot exited the media room, the rumors began to swirl. With Mohamed Salah still away at AFCON and the team dropping to 4th place, the “unbeaten run” felt hollow. The coach’s public calling out of a marquee signing signaled a turning point.
The “Hungarian King” of the Kop now finds himself on the outside looking in. For Slot, the patience has run out. Whether Szoboszlai can fight his way back, or if this marks the beginning of the end for his career at Merseyside, remains the biggest question of the season.
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