Dominik Szoboszlai proves Slot WRONG with MASSIVE decision

Although Liverpool haven’t been in action for a couple of weeks, there have been some big moments for the Reds during the international break.

Curtis Jones made a great impression on his senior England debut and Andrew Robertson saved his Scotland side from automatic relegation in the UEFA Nations League with an injury time winner.

Arguably the biggest moment of all came on Tuesday night, when Dominik Szoboszlai rescued a point for Hungary against Germany with a last-minute penalty.

The point earned by Szoboszlai wasn’t enough to change his side’s positioning in the group and Hungary will now play in a relegation play-off in March.

Szoboszlai’s spectacular spot kick

The captain of the Hungarian national team stepped up to take the penalty for his nation in the 99th minute.

Szoboszlai is well known for taking his penalties in a very particular fashion, usually hitting it hard and to the left of the goal, but he went for something different on Tuesday night.

For the first time in his career Szoboszlai went for a Panenka, and it paid off!

"There was a little nervousness in me because I had never taken a penalty like that before, but I figured, if the German goalkeeper stays in the middle in the 99th minute, then hats off to him.” Szoboszlai told Nemzeti Sport after the match.

One of the 24-year-old’s teammates, Daniel Gera, also joked that Szoboszlai owed the team dinner after trying his Panenka, but the skipper didn’t seem so sure.

“I don’t know if my teammates were surprised that I took the penalty ‘Panenka-style,’ but I definitely didn’t promise anyone dinner. However, if Dani Gera says so, then I really owe them a dinner—I wouldn’t dare say no to him."

Szoboszlai is proving Slot wrong

It wasn’t just Szoboszlai’s penalty that made his performance impressive, the midfielder made seven key passes during the match, five more than anyone else on the pitch.

The Hungarian also has the joint most key passes of any player in this iteration of the Nations League, joint with Dejan Kulusevski on 27.

These numbers are proof that Szoboszlai can have a major influence on the attack, something Arne Slot was critical of earlier in the campaign.

The new Reds head coach had questioned whether Szoboszlai’s numbers were good enough to be the attacking midfielder at Liverpool, but if he can translate his international performances into Liverpool performances Slot will surely be satisfied.

The confidence to take a Panenka penalty is also great to see. It shows that the medical emergency involving Adam Szalai in Hungary’s previous match against the Netherlands hasn’t had a lasting impact on Szoboszlai.

It also shows that, despite a somewhat slow start to the campaign for Liverpool, the player is ready to kick on and prove himself to any doubters.

Slot will now want to see this attacking output from Szoboszlai on a regular basis for his club as well as his country, and the Hungarian is sure to get plenty of chances to prove himself as the campaign goes on.