Andoni Iraola hopes Liverpool can avoid further injuries during the international break after Dominik Szoboszlai finished their 3-1 win over Crystal Palace with a knee problem.
The midfielder made his first Premier League start since returning from a hamstring injury but was not fully fit by the end of the match. Iraola said Liverpool’s medical staff would assess him before deciding whether he could join Hungary.
“Dom definitely wasn’t 100% in the second half,” the Liverpool manager said. “The last thing we need now is to lose players in the international games. In the last international break we lost three very important players in Alex, Cody [Gakpo] and Dom.”
He added: “I think Dom extended the knee a little bit. It was fine but not 100%. He has to be careful to see if he can play for the international team or not.”
Liverpool went into the break with three points after recovering from defeats by Arsenal and Fenerbahce. Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak scored at Selhurst Park, with Eddie Nketiah converting a late penalty for Palace.
Iraola said the victory was especially important after Liverpool’s midweek trip to Turkey.
“We needed this win, definitely, especially after the defeat the other day in Turkey,” he said. “This was another away game and we need to find ways to win in this kind of stadium. I’m very pleased for the three points.”
Liverpool had to withstand Palace pressure before Mac Allister put them ahead before half-time. Iraola said Alisson’s save in the first half had also been crucial.
After the break, Liverpool defended more effectively and found greater space to attack.
“In the second half we defended much better, we controlled much better the game,” Iraola said. “In the second half when we are ahead, we have spaces to attack and it becomes much easier.”
The manager said he hoped Szoboszlai would recover in time for international duty, but stressed that the club needed to understand the injury first.
“I know Dom will do everything to go as he loves to play for the national team, but he wasn’t 100% when he finished the game,” he said.
“We will have to analyse, our medical staff, and see what it is. I know what I want, but I have to understand the international teams, Dom will want to go but I’m not sure.”
