Jurgen Klopp says today’s Merseyside Derby was Dominik Szoboszlai’s first ever experience of a football rivalry.
Szoboszlai once again played the full 90 minutes for Liverpool today, as they beat Everton 2-0. After the game, the Hungarian was effusive in his praise of the atmosphere generated by the Anfield crowd throughout the match.
And speaking in his own post-match press conference via liverpoolfc.com, Klopp said that Szoboszlai had admitted to never having played in any kind of derby match in the past.
“When we had the finishing in the warm-up Dom told me, ‘I actually never played a derby before,’” explained the Liverpool manager.
“‘What do you mean?’ ‘Salzburg don’t have a derby, Leipzig don’t have a derby, Hungary has maybe a derby but the countries who would be a derby, we never played since I played international football.’
“‘OK, good, no problem, you give always 100 per cent so you are ready for the game.'”
A surprising admission from Dom, but a reminder of how special these types of matches are.
Szoboszlai makes derby day bow
At times over recent years, the Merseyside Derby has lacked a little allure. Liverpool have simply been lightyears ahead of Everton. There hasn’t been much contest.
To be honest, that feeling hasn’t been shaken even after today’s win.
The bragging rights are always nice, but at this point, Liverpool’s dominance is simply taken as read.
That doesn’t make it any less special for the fans of course, but it does mean that the game itself isn’t as competitive as it could be.
Hopefully that’s something that Szoboszlai can continue to get used to throughout his Liverpool career.
Of course, it won’t be the last derby the 22-year-old features in for the Reds this season. As well as the return at Goodison Park, he can look forward to two battling match-ups against Manchester United.
Then again, over recent times even that has become a little one-sided, too…
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