Dominik Szoboszlai has admitted his goal against Brighton was intended to be a cross. The Hungarian international restored Liverpool‘s lead on the stroke of halftime at the American Express Stadium, when he lashed the ball into the top corner from an unconventional shooting angle.
Szoboszlai immediately looked sheepish after the ball hit the back of the net before celebrating by putting the game ball under his shirt and sucking his thumb, signifying that he and his partner are expecting a child.
After the game, Szoboszlai was asked by Premier League Productions whether he meant to find the back of the net, and admitted honestly: “It was a cross, to be honest. I’m not going to lie. I’m happy to score, and happy to help the team.”
Szoboszlai’s goal proved to be Liverpool’s last on the night, as the Reds went on to lose 3-2 after second-half goals from Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma and Jack Hinshelwood.
The Reds are winless in their three games since the title-clinching 5-1 victory over Tottenham in April, and Szoboszlai admitted Brighton deserved to win.
“Of course, I cannot say we are very sad but of course we didn’t come here to lose,” the 24-year-old said.
“We wanted to win, I think we showed in the first 70 minutes that we wanted to show up and get the three points and take them home, but in the end we faced a really tough Brighton team.
“To be honest they deserved to win because at the end they worked harder than us, they scored more goals than us, and they looked like they wanted it more.”
Asked whether Brighton had the edge because it is chasing an eighth-placed finish that could yet be enough to secure a spot in next season’s Europa Conference League, Szoboszlai responded: “It’s hard to talk about that, but of course for us, we won the league already, but still we don’t come here to lose.
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“We don’t want to lose, as you saw against Arsenal we also gave everything, and this week on Sunday we’ll also give everything because it’s the last home game of the season, and I think the fans and everybody deserves to see us playing how we really want to play.
“First of all we have a week of training now, and 90 minutes to play [against Crystal Palace on Sunday].
“We don’t want to lose, we’re going to give everything and we’re going to fight for the three points, but yeah, at the end of the game, we’re going to lift the trophy, and probably everybody’s dreams came true.”
