Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has called for patience after midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai aggravated a hamstring injury during the Premier League victory over Brentford last weekend.

Szoboszlai was forced off in the first half of that 2-1 win and subsequently missed Liverpool's dramatic Champions League comeback against Villarreal on Tuesday. Iraola has now confirmed the issue is a recurrence of the same problem that kept the Hungary captain out of the two matches preceding the Brentford fixture.

Not a new injury

"It's not a new injury, I think it's in the same place it was probably last week," Iraola told reporters ahead of the Villarreal game. "He hasn't worsened the injury but probably we have to be a little bit more patient until he recovers fully."

The Liverpool boss was quick to praise Szoboszlai's determination to return early, adding: "I appreciate the effort he did the other day, to be available, to want to contribute in a very difficult game that you know is going to be very physical — [against] one of the most physical teams, Brentford."

What comes next

Szoboszlai did not train on Thursday and is considered highly unlikely to feature in Sunday's Premier League clash against high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion. Sky Sports reporter Vinny O'Connor has suggested the Hungary skipper could also sit out Liverpool's Carabao Cup tie against Chelsea and the subsequent Premier League encounter against Arsenal.

The 24-year-old has started six Premier League matches this season and came off the bench to score in the Carabao Cup third-round tie against Tottenham Hotspur. He also scored against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League league phase back in September.

Further injury concerns at Anfield

Liverpool's injury list stretches beyond Szoboszlai. Jeremie Frimpong is expected to be sidelined for approximately one month, while right-back Conor Bradley is reportedly nearing partial training and could return before the end of the year.

Centre-back Geovanni Leoni and striker Hugo Ekitike face longer recoveries. Teenager Leoni has yet to appear in the Premier League after suffering an ACL injury on his Carabao Cup debut in September 2025.