Dominik Szoboszlai explains ‘misunderstanding’ over clash with Liverpool fans

Dominik Szoboszlai feels his flashpoint with Liverpool fans this month was a “misunderstanding” as the Hungarian insisted he is “ready to die on the pitch” against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.

Social media footage showed Szoboszlai shrugging, raising his arms and clapping, widely interpreted as sarcasm, towards Reds supporters after a heavy 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Manchester City.

The midfielder was ushered away by team-mate Federico Chiesa amid a chorus of boos at the final whistle but Szoboszlai, regarded as Liverpool’s best player this season, played down the incident.

Dominik Szoboszlai had to be led away from Liverpool fans by Federico Chiesa after their FA Cup quarter-final loss to Man City (Mike Egerton/PA Wire)

“Maybe it was a misunderstanding between me and the fans,” he said. “I didn’t mean it in a bad way. Obviously I know what the fans mean to this club and what the club means to the fans.

“We do everything for the fans as they do for us. If it was a misunderstanding then I apologise.

“I’m not feeling better than them, I feel exactly the same as they do. I am with them, we are with them and hopefully they are with us as well.”

Szoboszlai is hopeful Liverpool can overcome PSG in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final (PA)

Szoboszlai was speaking ahead of the second leg of Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final against PSG, who hold the halfway advantage after winning 2-0 in the French capital last week.

However, Liverpool have staged a number of extraordinary European comebacks and Szoboszlai insisted he and his team-mates will do everything in their power to battle back against the defending champions.

“We’re going to go all in and give our best,” he added. “I’m ready to die on the pitch tomorrow. I can speak for all of the players because we want it so bad. Anything can happen in one game at Anfield.

“It is going to be a different game from the first leg. We are going to be doing stuff in a different way.

“We need to go all in and give everything possible. If at the end of the game you can say you gave everything then you can keep your chin up and say ‘we tried’. We don’t need any more motivation.”