“YOUR CHANT COST US” – Furious Szoboszlai Blasts Villa Fans After 4-2 Humiliation at Villa Park
Dominik Szoboszlai didn’t hold back after Aston Villa dismantled Liverpool 4-2 at Villa Park. The Hungarian midfielder went straight for the jugular post-match, blaming the home fans for a personal chant that he says directly caused the error leading to Villa’s 2nd goal.
“Your chant cost us the game,” Szoboszlai said, visibly angry in the mixed zone. “I heard it. It got in my head. I lost the ball. That’s on me, but you don’t do that in football. That’s not support, that’s dirty.”
The incident happened in the 52nd minute. Liverpool were pushing to get back into the game at 1-1 down. As Szoboszlai lined up to receive a throw-in near the Holte End, a group of Villa fans launched into a personal chant targeting his form and family. Cameras caught Szoboszlai shaking his head before play restarted.
Seconds later, disaster. Under no real pressure, Szoboszlai miscontrolled a simple 10-yard pass. M.Rogers got it, pounced, drove forward, make an assist to O.Watkins and smashed it past Mamardashvili to make it 2-1. Villa Park exploded. Liverpool’s comeback was dead before it started.
“I’m human,” Szoboszlai added. “When 3,000 people sing about your family, it hits different. I messed up, yeah. But don’t act like that didn’t play a part. The Premier League needs to look at this.”
Villa had already put Liverpool to the sword early. Morgan Rogers opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a low drive after cutting inside Konaté. Ollie Watkins made it 2-1 in the 57th with the assist from the mistake. V.Dijk pulled one back on the stroke of after half-time, giving Liverpool a lifeline.
But Szoboszlai’s mistake in the 57th minute killed it. He did try to respond, delivering a perfect through ball for Alexis Mac Allister to make it 3-2 in the 68th minute. For 14 minutes, Anfield away fans believed. Then John McGinn finished them off in the 82nd, tapping in after Kerkez and Konaté collided trying to clear a cross.
The final whistle confirmed a 4-2 humiliation. Liverpool dominated possession with 58%, but Villa were ruthless. 7 shots on target, 4 goals. Game over.
For Szoboszlai, it was a rare off night in a season where he’s been Liverpool’s midfield heartbeat. 8 goals, 11 assists coming into this game. But Villa’s midfield of Tielemans, Barkley, and Rogers bullied him all night. He finished with 68 touches, 1 key pass, 14 lost possessions, and 1 assist before being hooked in the 76th minute.
“Szoboszlai got bullied and he knows it.”
“Blaming fans is weak. Premier League is physical.”
Others defended him:
“That chant was out of order. He’s right to call it out.”
“One mistake doesn’t erase what he’s done this season.”
The result is massive. Villa move to 62 points and are now in pole position for a top-5 finish and Champions League football next season. Liverpool stay on 59 points in 4th. Champions League qualification is still likely, but the gap to Arsenal and Man City is gone. The title race is over.
Unai Emery loved it. “This is Villa Park. We make it difficult here,” he said post-match. “The fans were incredible. If Liverpool can’t handle that, that’s their problem.”
Szoboszlai wasn’t having it. “This isn’t about handling pressure. This is about respect. You can sing all you want about the game. Don’t make it personal. That’s where I draw the line.”
The Premier League has been under pressure all season to crack down on abusive chants. Villa themselves condemned their own fans in 2019 after racist chants aimed at Marvelous Nakamba. The club said then that perpetrators would be banned and reported to police.
Whether they act this time remains to be seen. But Szoboszlai has made sure the spotlight is on them.