Dominik Szoboszlai ‘tired of carrying Liverpool team-mates’ as he hits back | Football | Sport

Dominik Szoboszlai has liked a series of comments on his newest Instagram post, including one that read: “By now bro is tired because of carrying us all season.” The Liverpool midfielder came in for criticism in the defeat to Aston Villa after a costly slip allowed the hosts to go 2-1 in front just when the Reds had gained some momentum. Arne Slot’s team equalised through Virgil van Dijk, who headed in Szoboszlai’s delivery, five minutes earlier and then Rio Ngumoha struck the post with a fine effort. But the Hungarian’s error allowed Ollie Watkins to put the Villans back in front.

Villa eventually won 4-2 despite Szoboszlai assisting captain Van Dijk for his second goal in stoppage time. The result means Liverpool are limping over the line in this Premier League campaign, having failed to win any of their last three matches. The defending English champions have lost 19 matches across all competitions with 12 coming in the league. Their dismal trophyless campaign will end against Brentford next Sunday. But Szoboszlai made a promotional post in partnership with McDonalds less than 24 hours after the defeat to Villa, which did not go down well.

The comments were flooded with Liverpool fans telling him that the post, which included images of the player smiling, laughing and consuming fast food, was poorly timed and inconsiderate of the club’s situation. But the 25-year-old then made his feelings on those comments clear by liking a series of other messages supporting him.

Szoboszlai has had his best personal campaign at Anfield with 13 goals and 12 assists in 52 appearances and he is the frontrunner to be named the club’s player of the season. And the Hungary skipper liked one post reading: “By now bro is tired because of carrying us all season.”

He also liked comments that read: “2 assists last night. Carrying us brother”, “The best of the best! The shining light in a really dark cloud” and “Bro had one mistake at the whole season and all the kids laughing at him why? He’s carried Liverpool this season.”

Another lengthier comment read: “For everyone moaning on this post yes the timing isn’t great but I can guarantee Dom didn’t post this. This guy has carried us this season we need him to stay. Let him eat his Big Mac in peace.” Szoboszlai also pressed the like button on that one.

It was a controversial day on social media for Liverpool players on Saturday as Mohamed Salah posted a lengthy statement that included clear barbs at the under-fire Slot. The Dutch coach and the Egyptian legend have fallen out this season, leading Salah to ask Liverpool to cut his contract short by 12 months.

And he said: “Us crumbling to yet another defeat this season was very painful and not what our fans deserve. I want to see Liverpool go back to being the heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear and back to being a team that wins trophies.

“That is the football I know how to play and that is the identity that needs to be recovered and kept for good. It cannot be negotiable and everyone that joins this club should adapt to it. Winning some games here and there is not what Liverpool should be about. All teams win games.”

The post was liked by most of his Liverpool team-mates including Szoboszlai. The injured Hugo Ekitike commented a handshake emoji while Curtis Jones added a clapping emoji. Jones wrote in his own statement: “Thank you for your continued support in a disappointing season. It’s way off the standards expected at this football club.”

Reacting to Salah’s message, former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said on TNT Sports: “I think that he’s sending a message to the outside that things in that Liverpool dressing room are not right, the identity’s gone and it’s really hurting him to see it in front of his own eyes.

“That is quite damning to the Liverpool manager and the staff in terms of where this team’s at. Crumbling is a strong word. The performance last night was terrible, it was awful, it was difficult to watch from start to finish. It hurt me to watch Liverpool last night, they were nowhere near good enough.”