Dominik Szoboszlai has opened up on the pain he felt after the Republic of Ireland snatched a sensational victory in Budapest to deny Hungary a place in the World Cup play-offs in November.
Troy Parrott’s breathtakingly dramatic winner deep into stoppage time instantly became part of Irish sporting folklore.
However for the Hungarians, it was a devastating blow.
Szoboszlai – the standout player on the pitch that evening – was left crestfallen in the aftermath, and he’s now admitted the frustration has yet to fully subside.
“Being in the next World Cup with Hungary after we… don’t talk about it,” Liverpool midfielder Szoboszlai told Sky Sports when asked about his future ambitions in the game.
“It was very tough. I never felt more sad. I wasn’t angry, I was sad, more sad than this never, ever before.
“I owe (the Hungary fans) a World Cup.”
Szoboszlai is enduring a tough campaign at his club too, with Liverpool out of the title race and struggling to find any cohesion.
They head to league leaders Arsenal on Thursday night desperate for a change in fortunes.
Hearing his team branded as dull and boring is “hard to hear”, admits boss Arne Slot although the Dutchman says he cannot completely disagree with the criticism.
Liverpool are unbeaten in eight Premier League games but have looked unimpressive, drawing their last two games against Leeds United and Fulham and only narrowly beating bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
They have scored 16 fewer goals than they did at the same stage of last season and the reigning champions are 14 points behind the Gunners.
“I find it really hard to hear (those words) but it’s not that I completely disagree,” Slot (above) told reporters when asked for his reaction to the descriptions of his team.
“I would use different words, take certain things into account. I want to win as many trophies as I can but I think I’m also known for the fact that my teams always try to play attacking football and can only say we are trying to do so.”
Liverpool’s lack of goals comes despite a huge summer outlay in beefing up their attack and creativity.
They broke their transfer record twice, first to sign German playmaker Florian Wirtz and then striker Alexander Isak and also paid big money for Hugo Ekitike.
Top scorer Ekitike will miss the trip to Arsenal while Isak has struggled to justify his £125m price tag and is currently sidelined with a leg fracture. Wirtz has scored in two of his last three games but has also faced criticism.
“We are struggling to create a lot of chances. But as I’ve said many times, we are not the only team that struggles to create a lot of chances,” Slot said.
“I don’t think the number we create is that different to some other teams that are doing really well in the league.”
According to Opta, Liverpool rank seventh in the Premier League this season for ‘big chances’ created.
“We have to find a way against teams (who play) in not an attractive way, which is maybe even smart for them to do,” Slot said. “We are working every single day to improve that.”
Additional reporting: Reuters