I’ve handed the Man of the Match award to him because he’s the one who truly earned it, not me. He genuinely saved Liverpool today,” Dominik Szoboszlai reveals the ONE Liverpool player he believes deserved the Man of the Match honor.

“He saved Liverpool, not me!” – Szoboszlai admits he didn’t deserve Man of the Match and hands credit to this Liverpool star instead

 

 

 

The headlines at Anfield were supposed to be all about Dominik Szoboszlai after his dramatic 90th-minute free-kick sealed a 1-0 win for Liverpool against Arsenal. The Hungarian midfielder had lit up the stadium with a moment of pure brilliance, sending the Kop into raptures with his curling strike into the top corner.

 

 

 

But in a stunning twist after the match, Szoboszlai shocked reporters by insisting that the Man of the Match award should not have gone to him at all. Instead, he revealed that there was only one Liverpool player who truly earned the accolade—someone who, in his own words, “saved Liverpool today.”

 

 

 

> “I’ve handed the Man of the Match award to him because he’s the one who truly earned it, not me. He genuinely saved Liverpool today,” Szoboszlai admitted. “I scored the goal, yes, but without him, there would be no clean sheet, no chance for me to win the game late. He deserves the spotlight.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Real Hero: Ibrahima Konaté

 

 

 

Szoboszlai was referring to none other than Ibrahima Konaté, the French defensive powerhouse who produced an unbelievable performance against Arsenal’s star striker Victor Gyökeres.

 

 

 

For 90 minutes, Konaté was a wall. He dominated aerial duels, bullied Gyökeres off the ball, and made crucial last-ditch challenges that left Arsenal fans pulling their hair in frustration. On multiple occasions, Arsenal looked poised to break through—only for Konaté to appear out of nowhere, shutting the door in emphatic fashion.

 

 

 

His display was so commanding that even Arsenal’s own forward admitted after the match that Konaté was the toughest defender he had ever faced in his career.

 

 

 

Szoboszlai’s Humility

 

 

 

Szoboszlai’s decision to deflect praise onto his teammate reflects not just humility, but also the unity inside Arne Slot’s Liverpool squad. In a game where fine margins decided everything, the Hungarian midfielder knew that without Konaté’s sheer dominance at the back, Liverpool wouldn’t have had the platform to secure all three points.

 

 

 

> “Football is not about one goal, it’s about ninety minutes of fight. Konaté gave everything, he stopped their best chances. Today was his game. I just finished it.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fans React

 

 

 

Liverpool fans quickly took to social media to echo Szoboszlai’s sentiments:

 

 

 

“Szobo scored the screamer, but Konaté was a monster all game. Man of the Match 100%.”

 

 

 

“This is why Liverpool will succeed under Slot—players who value the team above themselves.”

 

 

 

“Gyökeres couldn’t breathe with Konaté marking him. Absolute brick wall.”

 

 

 

 

 

A Statement Win

 

 

 

The 1-0 victory over Arsenal may be remembered for Szoboszlai’s late magic, but inside the Liverpool dressing room, it’s Konaté’s name that will be celebrated the loudest. His defensive masterclass reminded everyone why he is regarded as one of the most fearsome defenders in world football, and why players—even from rival teams—fear going head-to-head with him.

 

 

 

For Szoboszlai, the message was clear: the goal may have made the headlines, but the real hero was Konaté, the man who turned Anfield into a fortress once again.

 

 

 

 

 

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