Reaction'Why I love football' - how Dominik Szoboszlai kept his cool to score late, late penalty at Newcastle
Being presented with an opportunity like his penalty at Newcastle United is why Dominik Szoboszlai loves football.
The No.8 buried a 99th-minute spot-kick at St. James’ Park on Sunday afternoon to ensure Liverpool claimed a point via a 2-2 draw on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season.
Earlier, Cody Gakpo had cancelled out Anthony Elanga’s fifth-minute strike, before Joe Willock quickly restored the Magpies’ lead.
But, after substitute Victor Munoz had been brought down in the area, Szoboszlai kept his nerve and dispatched his penalty into the top corner.
“To be honest, I didn’t even hear the whistle of the ref, so I had to look at him [to see] if I can go. He was looking at me and I was thinking, ‘OK, it’s time to go,’” he told Sky Sports post-match.
“I was practising a lot in the pre-season, obviously we didn’t have any [penalties during the friendly games], but in training, so thanks to the second and third goalies to be there for me. We take the positivity of the game, first game of the season, and we move on.
“I don’t know how many in the stadium, 50,000 against you [when taking the penalty]. Actually you can’t hear your own voice but that’s why we love football, that’s why I love football, that’s how I’m doing it. As I said before, we move on.”
Read the rest of the midfielder’s interview below.
On what the atmosphere was like to play in…
Obviously to come here is always a tough game. The first game of the season away in Newcastle, everybody knows [how difficult it is]. Obviously the fans are unbelievable, they have a great team, a good manager - obviously new but he showed himself in many other clubs.
We were prepared but I think we, with the new manager as well, we need to get even more closer to each other, we need to know what’s going on during the game. But it’s a good step actually after a 2-1 [deficit], to come back into the game, and we prepare again for next week.
On whether he feels Liverpool should have won…
If I’m honest, yes. I think we were able to win, but that’s football. You don’t win easy in the Premier League, it doesn’t matter against who you play. They were a good team, scored two transition goals. These are the things we have to be aware of and we have to take care in the next weeks as well.
On what he learned from the Reds’ first game under Andoni Iraola…
That we will never give up, that’s for sure, I can guarantee. We have to fight, we have to fight every time, all day long, during the 95 minutes. Everybody who comes off the bench, as you see today, they made a big impact as well. Victor had his first minutes in the Premier League, made [won] a penalty already. So, we need the whole squad and we have to be ready.