1 hour ago
27
Liverpool duo Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez are set to face a huge game on Sunday — with World Cup qualification hopes on the line for both Hungary and Ireland in Budapest.
On Thursday, Hungary beat Armenia thanks to a Barnabas Varga goal. Had Portugal beaten Ireland, that would have confirmed Szoboszlai's team as coming second in the group, which is enough to get a playoff spot.
However, Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for an elbow and Troy Parrott netted twice, giving Ireland a shock 2-0 win. That means Ireland sits on seven points, Hungary on eight, and Portugal on 10, with one match left for each to play.
Hungary vs. Ireland on Sunday is essentially now a playoff for the playoffs, with Portugal expected to bounce back and beat Armenia in Porto to secure its place at the top of the group.
A draw would mean Hungary coming second, but anything other than that will mean Ireland leapfrogging Szoboszlai and Kerkez into the playoff spot.
In the last international break, Hungary drew 2-2 with Portugal, and that point — secured by a last-minute Szoboszlai goal — now looks even more important.
Ireland and Portugal drew 2-2 last time they faced each other. That was in September, when Varga and Rolland Sallai scored in Dublin, but Adam Idah netted a stoppage-time equalizer.
Coming up against Szoboszlai and Kerkez is a former teammate of the former, Caoimhin Kelleher, who signed for Brentford in the summer.
Kelleher had already left by the time Kerkez came in from Bournemouth, leaving in search of more minutes after years of finding himself behind Alisson Becker in the pecking order. Despite being the No. 2 goalkeeper, Kelleher still left Anfield as a hero after leading the Reds to victory in the 2022 and 2024 Carabao Cup finals.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Kerkez earned a 6/10 player rating against Armenia from the Hungarian news outlet Nemzeti Sport, which was only surpassed by three players.
"He started actively," the article said. "In the 18th minute he tried to pass to Szoboszlai, who was coming out at a good pace, but he passed long, after his next save the ball went to his feet, there was uncertainty in him.
"In the 32nd minute, he started brilliantly, but he passed it badly, but at the same time he played football with determination.
"After the break, he had some astonishing solutions, balls kicked to his feet, as if his self-confidence had disappeared a little in Liverpool."
English (US) ·