Why Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai will be out for revenge in Champions League

The midfielder has enjoyed a fantastic season, but one frustrating Champions League encounter may continue to haunt Dominik Szoboszlai, who can avenge that mistake next month

Dominik Szoboszlai's foul gave away a decisive penalty when Liverpool last faced Galatasaray(Image: Getty Images)

Friday’s Champions League meeting with Galatasaray means Liverpool fans face a trip back to Istanbul, a city that occupies a special place in the club’s history.

Of course, it was in the Turkish capital that the Reds won the 2005 Champions League final in such dramatic circumstances, coming from three goals down at half-time to be crowned European champions.

While a trip to the far side of Europe can be seen as an undeniable slog, for Liverpool fans, traveling the 2,000+ miles may not feel quite so taxing. But next month’s Champions League last-16 tie is not the first time those loyal fans will have made the journey this season.

Indeed, the Reds have already faced Galatasaray in the competition this campaign. Arne Slot’s side made the commute to Turkey for its first away game of the league phase, although the Reds came back empty-handed.

This match came amid Liverpool’s woeful autumnal downturn as it lost six in seven and serious questions began to overshadow Slot’s managerial tenure.

The Galatasaray game was among those hideous defensive showings that defined matches during that run, with Ibrahima Konate and Milos Kerkez struggling.

However, it was Dominik Szoboszlai who committed the fatal error on this occasion. At the time, his deployment at right-back felt like a short-term experiment rather than the silver bullet it has so often provided Slot this campaign.

It was a frustrating night for Szoboszlai when Liverpool last faced Galatasaray(Image: Getty Images)

Twice in the early stages, he was caught out of position at Rams Park, with Baris Alper Yilmaz forcing Alisson into an early stop, before earning a penalty from a dubious Szoboszlai foul.

Liverpool’s no.8 followed Yilmaz’s run into the box, and after stopping the cross, his arm accidentally swung back and struck the Galatasaray winger in the face. Harshley, a spot-kick was awarded, and Victor Osimhen converted.

Truthfully, Galatasaray’s margin of victory could have been greater, with Osimhen failing to make the most of three separate scoring opportunities.

Liverpool pushed in the second half to find an equalizer and thought it had earned a route back into the game when a late penalty was awarded for a foul on Konate, but replays showed Wilfried Singo had first cleared the ball before catching the French center-back, and the decision was reversed.

Liverpool lost 1-0, one of the two league-phase matches it lost. Therefore, the Reds will be out for revenge when the sides lock horns in the last-16. None more so than Szoboszlai, with that September fixture a rare source of frustration in what has been a superb individual season.

The midfielder has spoken about his burning desire to reach this season’s final, which will be staged in his native Hungary. That all begins with a reunion with Galatasaray

Facing the Turkish champions at Anfield in the second leg is undoubtedly a bonus for Liverpool this time around - and avoiding defeat in Istanbul would provide an excellent platform before the return match at home the following week.