Szoboszlai dismisses celebration controversy as Mac Allister's father plays down Real Madrid links

Dominik Szoboszlai has rejected suggestions that his pointed celebration during Liverpool’s 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday was aimed at supporters who criticised the team following a goalless draw with Fulham, while Alexis Mac Allister’s father has moved to dismiss speculation linking the Argentine midfielder to Real Madrid.

Szoboszlai, who scored a stunning half-volley at Anfield, responded to the ear-cupping gesture with a straightforward explanation. “No, [the celebration] was just for myself,” the Hungarian said post-match. “I just decided before the game and I just did it.”

The Liverpool vice-captain, part of a leadership group alongside Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Alisson Becker, also addressed broader criticism of his form this season. “Was there a criticism? I don’t know — I didn’t see [that] but thanks for telling me,” he said. “This goal was for the people who are always next to me. Because we are also humans so we can have bad games, we can have bad days. There will be games where I am going to play badly, but I think the most important is the reaction — and I think I reacted quite well today.”

Szoboszlai’s performance came at a timely moment for Liverpool, whose decision not to reinforce their midfield this summer has drawn scrutiny after just one Premier League win from their opening four fixtures.

Meanwhile, Mac Allister’s father Carlos has sought to cool talk of a departure from Anfield, downplaying the prospect of his son joining Real Madrid. The World Cup winner has been in and out of Arne Slot’s starting XI this season, yet underlined his value with a goal against Spurs — following a Champions League win over Atletico Madrid the previous week.

Mac Allister, whose contract runs until 2028, had previously admitted he was “very, very sad” not to have been offered a new deal by the club, and acknowledged he had received offers to leave Anfield during the summer transfer window. His father’s intervention suggests the family is keen to manage the narrative around the midfielder’s future, even as uncertainty over his contractual situation continues to linger.