Szoboszlai’s Determined to Help Liverpool Lift the Carabao Cup After Last Year’s Near Miss
Szoboszlai is Determined to Help Liverpool Lift the Carabao Cup After Last Year’s Near Miss
A year ago, Dominik Szoboszlai stood on the sidelines, celebrating from afar as Liverpool claimed the Carabao Cup. Now, the Hungarian midfielder is eager to make his own contribution on the pitch and help his team retain the trophy this Sunday.
Szoboszlai was one of several Reds players sidelined by injuries for the 2024 final, with his fitness falling just short of the mark. Though he couldn’t play, he was at Wembley, caught up in the euphoria of Virgil van Dijk’s unforgettable extra-time winner against Chelsea.
Reflecting on the upcoming opportunity, Szoboszlai shared his excitement with Liverpoolfc.com, saying, “It’s unbelievable. I had the chance to play in last year’s final, but unfortunately, my injury kept me out. Hopefully, I’ll get another chance to play this time. It’s up to the coach, but I’m ready.”
“I waited until the very end last year, hoping I could play,” he continued. “I still had some pain, but I wanted to be out there. In the end, we decided it was better not to risk it. We were thinking long-term, so I had to step back – just like the others who missed out. But they did an incredible job, and I hope we can do it again this year.”
Despite missing key players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota, Darwin Núñez, and Mohamed Salah, Liverpool showed incredible resilience in last year’s final. Even Ryan Gravenberch was forced off before halftime. Yet, with support from a fearless group of Academy players, the Reds overcame the odds to secure a 10th Carabao Cup triumph, with Van Dijk’s header from Kostas Tsimikas’ corner sealing the win in the 118th minute.
Szoboszlai vividly remembers that moment: “Me and Darwin were joking, ‘If he scores now, we’ll run inside!’ We totally forgot about our injuries! But we were so happy.”
Looking ahead to this year, Szoboszlai is clear about the goal: “Of course, we want to retain the trophy. Last year was a bit tricky, but this year, we’re more prepared. We know what we’re up against, and we’ll give everything to bring the trophy back.”
This time, their challenge comes from Newcastle United, who have been impressive on their road to the final. The Magpies have defeated teams like Nottingham Forest, AFC Wimbledon, Chelsea, Brentford, and most recently, Arsenal in the semi-finals, where they won both legs 2-0. The two teams will meet again just 18 days after their Premier League encounter at Anfield, where Szoboszlai found the net in a 2-0 victory for Liverpool.
“We’re ready to fight,” Szoboszlai said confidently. “Whoever plays in midfield doesn’t matter. Everyone’s prepared to give their all for the team. Finals are different, and we all have the same goal.”
He continued, offering support for teammates who might not see much playing time: “It’s easy to say that you should always focus on the team, but I’ve been there myself. It’s not always easy, but you have to stay ready. Your time will come. Things can change quickly – if someone gets injured, you step in, and you have to be ready to show what you’ve got. That’s what makes a strong team. Having 25 players who are all prepared to step up when needed is what makes us special.”
With Liverpool’s full squad ready for the final, Szoboszlai and his teammates are determined to bring the Carabao Cup back to Anfield, no matter the challenges they face.
