In what could only be described as a bizarre twist of fate, Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai made a remarkable error during last night’s FA Cup third-round tie, leaving fans, pundits, and opponents alike stunned. While some may joke that a backheel like that could have been “a lifetime of regret,” Liverpool ultimately emerged victorious, defeating third-tier Burnley 4-1 to advance to the next round of England’s oldest football competition.
Before the blunder, Szoboszlai had already impressed, scoring a stunning long-range goal that left Burnley goalkeeper Murphy Cooper with no chance. Yet, it was his misjudged backheel attempt that dominated post-match discussions.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot commented after the game, “Mistakes like this shouldn’t happen in the FA Cup, League Cup, friendly matches, or even in training. It was an unusual decision, and I have my personal views on it, but I will keep those private and discuss the matter with Dominik privately.”
The incident occurred in the 40th minute. Szoboszlai and Burnley midfielder Adam Phillips sprinted towards the ball inside the Liverpool penalty area. Szoboszlai reached the ball first but, in a moment of audacious creativity, attempted a backheel to a teammate behind him—presumably goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. However, Mamardashvili was slightly out of position, leaving Phillips in perfect range to collect the misdirected ball and score with ease.
Burnley manager Conor Hourihan described the goal as “disrespectful” to his team. He remarked, “I am dissatisfied with our conceding that goal. Szoboszlai would not have attempted this against Chelsea or Arsenal. It lacked respect for the opposition.”
Earlier in the match, in the 9th minute, Szoboszlai had scored an extraordinary 35-yard strike from outside the box—a goal few keepers could realistically save. His performance overall was remarkable: over 105 completed passes and 12 successful ball recoveries, alongside his goal. Liverpool’s other scorers were Jeremy Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike.
| Player | Goals | Completed Passes | Ball Recoveries | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominik Szoboszlai | 1 | 105 | 12 | 35-yard goal, backheel error |
| Jeremy Frimpong | 1 | – | – | Scored |
| Florian Wirtz | 1 | – | – | Scored |
| Hugo Ekitike | 1 | – | – | Scored |
Szoboszlai expressed remorse after the match, stating, “I apologise to the team. I made a simple mistake that made things harder for my teammates.” Nevertheless, football analysts, including former Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott, argued that the backheel was “disrespectful” to the opposition, underscoring the fine line between brilliance and error in top-level football.
