Dominik Szoboszlai has explained his latest Liverpool goal celebration.
Szoboszlai rounded off Tuesday’s Carabao Cup third round win over Tottenham at Anfield with a sublime half-volley from distance late on.
The Hungary international pointed to his ear while celebrating the strike which set up a home meeting for Andoni Iraola’s side with Chelsea late next month.
It came just days after the Reds been heavily scrutinised for their display in a dismal draw that earned Fulham’s first Premier League point of the season.
Szoboszlai himself was among those singled out for criticism after winning just one of 10 duels he contested against the Londoners within midfield.
But asked if there was any meaning behind the gesture, the vice-captain replied: “No, just for myself. I just decided before the game and I just did it.
“Was there a criticism? I don’t know. I didn’t see [that] but thanks for telling me.
“You know this goal was for the people who are always next to me.
“Because we are also humans so we can have bad games, we can have bad days and I think never ever was a player who played every game of his life [well].
“So there will be days also and games where I am going to play badly, but I think the most important is the reaction so I think I reacted quite well today.
“Hopefully I can keep on going on Sunday against Bournemouth.”
Iraola’s approach has been key to Liverpool’s unbeaten start with a setup not too dissimilar to predecessor Arne Slot, who favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation.
However Szoboszlai insists the Basque’s philosophy is actually more nuanced with the traditional holding midfield positions mixing defence and attack.
He added: “I think you guys [in the media] see a little bit different because we play with one [number] 6, one 8 and one 10.
“The 6 and the 8 are not next to each other. The 8 is a little bit higher and the 6 is a little bit deeper and the 10 is a little bit even higher so it is not two next to each other.
“The 8 is a little bit higher and the 6 is a little bit deeper and the 10 is a little bit even higher so it is not two next to each other.
“So you put the pictures or whatever in the media, guys, just the information. It is a 6, an 8 and a 10 so yes, it is just the system. What you see is maybe not what the manager asks us to do.
“Last week against Fulham I was a No 8, I have been No.2 (right-back) as well, I have been No.6, No.8, No.10, No.7 (right-wing) also.
“But yeah that is an information from our side to help you guys when put some things, a 6, an 8 a 10.”