Dominik Szoboszlai insists he has no concerns over his Liverpool future despite stalled contract negotiations, after the Hungarian set up the winner in the Reds’ 2-1 Merseyside derby victory over Everton on Sunday.
Van Dijk headed home a stoppage-time winner from Szoboszlai’s corner in the 100th minute to secure three points that moved Liverpool seven points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea in the race for Champions League qualification.
It was a fitting contribution from Szoboszlai, who has been Liverpool’s standout performer this season with 12 goals and nine assists in all competitions.
Yet for all his quality on the pitch, the question hanging over him remains his future off it.
“There has been no real progression, so I cannot say anything new about my contract situation,” he said after the final whistle. “We have a lot of games to go and I am focusing on that. As you guys know, my contract ends in 2028, so I am ready to go every day, every week, and then let’s see.
“Of course I see myself here in the long term, but it is not really in my hands any more. I love being here. I love the fans. My family is happy.
“I’m completely relaxed. We have five games to go. Then I am going to rest — a big one, after my international break. Then we will see.”
Van Dijk heads Reds to derby victory
The result itself had plenty of other storylines. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in the 29th minute, his fifth goal in eight games, and in doing so equalled Steven Gerrard’s record of nine Merseyside derby goals in the Premier League era.
Beto levelled in the 54th minute, sliding in to finish after Everton worked the ball down the left, and the equaliser came at a cost for Liverpool. Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was carried off after sustaining an injury in the build-up, handing a Premier League debut to Freddie Woodman.
But Szoboszlai was not done. His corner delivery found Van Dijk at the back post and the captain did the rest, sending the travelling support into delirium deep in stoppage time.
“It felt amazing,” Szoboszlai said. “We practised set-pieces yesterday. I just put it in the mix and hoped for Virgil and Ibou [Konate] to win it.
“To win a derby like this in the last second, we couldn’t ask for more. We are happy for each other but also for the fans because we know what it means for them.
“A win always changes the mood but we have to keep our feet on the floor and keep working hard. We have to keep fighting for the Champions League spots and there are hard games ahead of us.”
