Andy Robertson reveals Liverpool locker room verdict on Dominik Szoboszlai error

Dominik Szoboszlai made a big error that made life more difficult for his Liverpool teammates in the FA Cup, but Andy Robertson says if anyone has leeway this season, it is him

Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson.(Image: MB Media/Getty Images)

Andy Robertson says if anyone deserves to be forgiven for making an error this season in the Liverpool locker room, it is Dominik Szoboszlai after the Hungary captain's bizarre mistake against Barnsley.

Szoboszlai has been Liverpool's best player so far this term and he opened the scoring in the FA Cup tie at Anfield in spectacular fashion, driving in a shot from distance.

But just before half-time, the 25-year-old attempted a backheel inside his own six-yard box that allowed Adam Phillips to halve the deficit from close range, drawing the ire from Barnsley boss Conor Hourihane, who labeled it "disrespectful".

"The frustrating thing is Dom does this unbelievable 60-yard sprint to start with. He’s getting the clap off The Kop and I don’t know if that maybe went to his head!" Robertson joked with reporters post-match.

"We can joke about it now but it’s unacceptable to lose a goal like that. Dom obviously knows that. He’s been magnificent for us this season and he was again really good. He just had a lapse of concentration, and we can’t afford too many of them in the six-yard box.

"I don’t think Gio (Mamardashvili) was too happy. He wants to keep a clean sheet; the defense wants to keep a clean sheet as well, so it wasn’t great. It gave them a way back in and it was 2-1 for a long time. It made it a bit nervy but we got there in the end."

Given it was so close to the interval, Szoboszlai didn't have long before he got the chance to explain himself to his teammates. That, though, wasn't necessary.

Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai(Image: Getty Images)

“I think we all said something at the time, but he realized and apologized at half-time," Robertson said. "If anyone's performances can’t get criticized this season, it’s Dom’s.

"He’s been 100 per cent every game this season and has this lapse of concentration which isn’t great. We can’t really afford that in the so-called bigger games.

"The most frustrating thing [was letting Barnsley back into the game]. This season, we’ve let teams in far too many times.

"From the opening game of the season (against Bournemouth), we’ve done it and we’ve been punished at times, in terms of losing or drawing games.

Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"At 2-0, we started looking in control so for that to happen, then questions get asked. It’s safe to say it was an individual error, but we then limited their chances which is good. Then it was just about getting the third and fourth.

"We had quality off the bench and they delivered. These games are about getting through. We’ve seen a couple of Premier League teams going out against lesser opposition and thankfully, it wasn’t us."

Generally, Liverpool has improved in the last few games, being better defensively and putting together a run of results — even if there is still a substantial amount of work to do yet.

"We’ve done better over the last couple of weeks," Robertson said. "We’ve looked a bit more secure defensively which is pleasing but now we need to put it all together because people are saying we’re lacking an attacking threat.

"We need to now get both because at the start of the season, we were really good going forward but probably a little bit too open at the back. Now we’ve kind of reversed it.

"If you want to win trophies and go further in tournaments, you have to get the perfect balance and that’s what we’re working towards.

"Some of the performances still have to be better. Within that [unbeaten run], we’ve got the draws against Leeds, Sunderland — games you’re expected to win.

"But within that too, there’s the draw at Arsenal, a win at the San Siro and things like that. Going 11 unbeaten is good. We’ve stopped the bad form, but we still need to lift the levels of performance. Everyone knows that and that’s what we’re working towards."