Dominik Szoboszlai insisted he didn’t deserve Liverpool’s Man of the Match award after his last-minute free-kick sealed a 1-0 win over Arsenal, instead crediting Ibrahima Konaté as the true hero of the night.
The Hungarian midfielder stunned reporters by saying his late strike would have meant nothing without Konaté’s defensive brilliance.
“I gave him the award because he earned it, not me,” Szoboszlai explained. “Yes, I scored, but he’s the one who saved Liverpool today.
Without his defending, there would have been no clean sheet and no chance for my goal to win the game.”
Konaté delivered a flawless performance, completely shutting down Arsenal striker Victor Gyökeres, who later admitted the Frenchman was the toughest defender he had ever faced.
From aerial dominance to crucial tackles, Konaté ensured Arsenal never broke through, earning widespread praise from fans and teammates alike.
Szoboszlai’s humility and respect for his teammate highlighted the unity in Arne Slot’s Liverpool side.
For many, while the goal was the headline moment, the real story of the night was Konaté’s defensive masterclass that turned Anfield into a fortress.
