Liverpool’s Szoboszlai out of FA Cup tie at Arsenal
Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai will miss the FA Cup third-round match at Arsenal on Sunday because of a hamstring injury.
The 23-year-old Hungary international suffered the blow in Monday’s 4-2 win against Newcastle United and came off after 64 minutes.
“I can confirm it’s not a potential injury – it is an injury,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said on Friday.
“Muscle, hamstring. But now we have to see.”
Szoboszlai will also miss the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Fulham on Wednesday.
“Dom is very positive, doesn’t have a lot of pain, but we have to wait a little bit,” added Klopp.
“So, no chance obviously for Sunday, not for Wednesday, and then we will see. After that, hopefully he might be back but we don’t know.”
Szoboszlai joins Thiago Alcantara, Andy Robertson, Stefan Bajcetic, Joel Matip and Kostas Tsimikas on Liverpool’s injury list, while the Reds will also be without Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo.
Forward Salah will be with Egypt ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations while midfielder Endo is at the Asian Cup with Japan.
Asked about his parting words to Salah and Endo, Klopp said: “I said if I wish you good luck it would be a lie. No, but I do, obviously.
“From a personal point of view, I would be overly happy if they go out of the group stage, but it’s probably not possible, so it’s fine and then they can go and win it as well.
“‘Good luck, see you, and come back healthy’ – that’s pretty much the words.”
It remains to be seen how Liverpool, who sit top of the Premier League, cope without the influential pair.
Klopp said: “Now we have to deal with it and will deal with it.
“Of course, you see the recent games and then you think, ‘OK, that looks a bit strange’. But I am pretty positive we will find a way, but we have to show that obviously on the pitch.”