Dominik Szoboszlai injury: Hungary face ‘last-minute’ decision after knee sprain

Hungary expect to make a last-minute decision on Dominik Szoboszlai’s availability after the Liverpool midfielder underwent medical examinations on a knee sprain.

The captain suffered the injury during Sunday’s 3-1 win at Crystal Palace but joined his national squad ahead of their final two Nations League group matches.

Hungary travel to Georgia on Saturday 14 November before hosting Northern Ireland on Tuesday 17 November. Liverpool then return to Premier League action against Manchester United at Anfield on 22 November.

Dominik Szoboszlai injury: what Hungary have confirmed

The Hungarian Football Federation confirmed on Tuesday that Szoboszlai had completed the required examinations. Its medical staff will continue working with him over the coming days.

In a statement reported by The Standard, the federation said staff would do everything possible to make their captain available to the coaching team.

“However, a decision on his availability for the match will almost certainly only be made at the last minute,” it added.

The immediate question is whether Szoboszlai can face Georgia. The statement did not provide a recovery timetable or establish whether the injury would affect his availability for Liverpool after the break.

What happened to Szoboszlai against Crystal Palace?

Szoboszlai was replaced in the 69th minute at Selhurst Park, having delivered the free-kick from which Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring.

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola acknowledged afterwards that the midfielder had finished his involvement below full fitness.

“I think he extended a little bit the knee, he was fine, but not 100%,” Iraola said, in comments carried by RTÉ and the Press Association.

Iraola said Liverpool and Hungary’s medical teams would need to assess the problem before deciding whether he could play internationally.

The setback follows a hamstring problem that cost Szoboszlai five matches last month. He returned to action in the 1-0 home defeat by Arsenal on 1 November.

Read our Crystal Palace 1-3 Liverpool match report for the full story of Sunday’s win.

Liverpool’s fixtures after the international break

Liverpool face three matches in eight days when club football resumes, starting with United’s visit.

Date	Fixture	Competition
Sunday 22 November	Liverpool vs Manchester United	Premier League
Wednesday 25 November	Club Brugge vs Liverpool	Champions League
Sunday 29 November	Everton vs Liverpool	Premier League

The Champions League fixture takes Liverpool to Belgium before the away Merseyside derby.

Szoboszlai is not the only Liverpool player whose fitness is being monitored during the break. Virgil van Dijk has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad.

Mac Allister one booking from a league ban

Liverpool also have a separate midfield concern ahead of the derby: Mac Allister has accumulated four Premier League yellow cards.

Under the competition’s disciplinary rules, five bookings within a team’s opening 19 league matches bring a one-match suspension. A further caution against Manchester United would therefore rule him out of the Everton game.

That suspension would apply in the Premier League; the intervening Champions League trip to Club Brugge would not clear it.