Szoboszlai's sprained knee is a late call for Hungary, five days before Liverpool-United

Dominik Szoboszlai reported to Hungary's training base at Telki with a sprained knee, and the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) says it will not know until the last minute whether its captain can play in Georgia on Saturday. Liverpool would rather he didn't, and the timing explains why: Hungary's two Nations League games come right before Manchester United visit Anfield on Sunday, Nov. 22.

The 26-year-old was treated on the pitch shortly before halftime of Liverpool's 3-1 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday. He came out for the second half with his knee heavily strapped and was taken off in the 69th minute. Andoni Iraola said afterward that Szoboszlai "was not 100%" and that he had "extended a little bit the knee."

On Tuesday the MLSZ confirmed the diagnosis in a statement on X: "Following his knee sprain, the national team's medical staff will do everything possible over the coming days to ensure that the team captain is available to the coaching staff as soon as possible. However, a decision on his availability for the match will almost certainly only be made at the last minute." Szoboszlai, for his part, posted photos of himself arriving for camp with the caption "Back in town."

This is not a dead-rubber window for Marco Rossi. Hungary are second in Nations League Group B2, one point behind Northern Ireland, and they host the leaders in Budapest on Tuesday, Nov. 17, in what could decide promotion to League A. First comes the trip to Georgia on Saturday, Nov. 14. Two games in four days is a lot to ask of a knee that needed strapping at halftime on Sunday.

Former Hungary coach János Csank didn't blame the federation. He blamed Liverpool. "He should have been substituted straight away, they were leading 1-0," he told Blikk, adding that he was "losing my mind" watching Szoboszlai go back out with a bandaged knee.

Liverpool's worry comes from experience. Szoboszlai, Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo all came back from the long September-October window hurt, and none of them played in the 3-0 loss at Manchester City that followed. "Last time, in the international break, we lost three very important players, so now I'm praying – it's the last thing we need," Iraola said. "I know what I want, but I also have to understand the national teams."

The win at Selhurst Park lifted Liverpool to fourth, and the United game opens a run that also includes Everton and Chelsea. Whether Szoboszlai is in that lineup may depend on two seperate calls made in Hungary: one on Saturday in Georgia, and one next Tuesday against Northern Ireland.