Anfield erupted in celebration when Dominik Szoboszlai curled home a stunning 90th-minute free-kick to seal Liverpool’s dramatic 1-0 victory over Arsenal. The Hungarian midfielder looked set to dominate the headlines with his moment of brilliance that sent the Kop wild.
However, in a surprising post-match twist, Szoboszlai downplayed his own role and insisted the Man of the Match award belonged elsewhere. He revealed that another Liverpool player, in his view, had been the real match-winner.
“I’ve handed the Man of the Match award to him because he’s the one who truly earned it, not me. He genuinely saved Liverpool today,” Szoboszlai said. “I scored the goal, yes, but without him, there would be no clean sheet and no chance for me to win the game late. He deserves the spotlight.”
The Real Hero: Ibrahima Konaté
Szoboszlai was speaking about Ibrahima Konaté, the French centre-back who delivered an outstanding defensive performance against Arsenal’s star striker Victor Gyökeres.
For the full 90 minutes, Konaté was unshakeable. He won countless aerial battles, shut down attacks with perfectly timed tackles, and constantly frustrated Arsenal’s forwards. On several occasions when Arsenal looked certain to score, Konaté appeared from nowhere to deny them.
His display was so dominant that even Gyökeres admitted after the game that Konaté was the toughest defender he had ever faced.
Szoboszlai’s Humility
By redirecting praise to Konaté, Szoboszlai highlighted both his humility and the strong sense of unity in Arne Slot’s Liverpool squad. He acknowledged that without Konaté’s defensive excellence, his late winner would not have been possible.
“Football is not about one goal—it’s about ninety minutes of fight,” Szoboszlai explained. “Konaté gave everything and stopped their best chances. Today was his game. I just finished it.”
Fans React
Liverpool supporters quickly echoed Szoboszlai’s words on social media:
“Szobo scored the screamer, but Konaté was a monster all game. Man of the Match 100%.”
“This is why Liverpool will succeed under Slot—players who value the team above themselves.”
“Gyökeres couldn’t breathe with Konaté marking him. Absolute brick wall.”
A Statement Victory
While the match will be remembered for Szoboszlai’s spectacular late goal, inside the Liverpool camp the biggest applause was reserved for Konaté. His defensive masterclass reminded everyone why he is considered among the world’s elite defenders.
For Szoboszlai, the message was simple: his free-kick grabbed the headlines, but the true hero of the night was Ibrahima Konaté—the man who once again turned Anfield into a fortress.
