Why Dominik Szoboszlai is a shock absentee for Liverpool vs Man City showdown

Dominik Szoboszlai is missing Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Manchester City due to a hamstring issue, head coach Andoni Iraola has confirmed.

The influential Hungarian midfielder was previously considered as a guaranteed starter for Sunday’s high-profile showdown at Anfield, potentially in a more advanced role amid injuries sustained by the likes of Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo during the extended three-week international break.

No injury to Szoboszlai was mentioned in the build-up to City’s visit to Merseyside this weekend, but fears first emerged among Liverpool fans on Sunday morning that he could miss the game after he was absent from footage of the squad outside their team hotel that circulated on social media.

Those concerns proved to be well-founded, with the club’s reigning player of the season becoming the headline omission from their squad hours later.

Szoboszlai’s absence was reported to be due to a hamstring problem - something that was later confirmed by Iraola during his pre-match interview.

“Another one coming from the international games,” said the Liverpool boss on Sky Sports. “He came with an overload, he felt a tight hamstring.

“He's tried somehow, kind of pushing through training, but he was not feeling 100 per cent and we will have to wait for Dom, yes.”

Absent: Dominik Szoboszlai is not involved as Liverpool face Manchester City

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Alexis Mac Allister had also been absent from the footage of Liverpool’s players outside their team hotel on Sunday morning, but he appeared to quickly allay fears over possibly missing the game against City after posting a match graphic via his official Instagram account.

The Argentine was indeed named in the starting lineup by Iraola, joining Ryan Gravenberch in the double midfield pivot.

Liverpool made three changes in total from the side that beat Bournemouth 1-0 away before the long international break, with Gravenberch replacing Szoboszlai in midfield.

Jeremy Jacquet retained his place in an unchanged defence following a hamstring strain suffered while away on Nations League duty with France last week, but the likes of long-term absentees Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni all remain sidelined.

Federico Chiesa came into the matchday squad for the first time this season after recovering from a back injury, along with Wataru Endo.