“We are not playing against the champions, they are” — Szoboszlai fires as Liverpool travel to the Emirates
Dominik Szoboszlai has poured fuel on the Premier League title race ahead of Liverpool’s heavyweight clash with Arsenal, insisting the Reds remain the Premier League’s benchmark despite their current position in the table.
Speaking ahead of the game, the Hungarian acknowledged how uneasy the English Premier League is and took no time to remind everyone who the champions are.
“The Premier League is not easy. You don’t win it by January, so I don’t think we are playing against the champions,” Szoboszlai said. “They’re playing against the champions.”
It is a bold statement, especially with Arsenal hosting Thursday night’s encounter at the Emirates Stadium as league leaders. The Gunners have opened up a six-point gap at the top and, on current form, look well placed to finally end 23 years of near misses in their pursuit of the Premier League crown.
Mikel Arteta’s side are also miles ahead of last season’s champions Liverpool, who now sit fourth after a campaign of mixed results. While Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa have surged to the front of the pack, Liverpool have slipped down the pecking order, searching for consistency at a critical stage of the season.
Yet history offers the Reds a psychological edge. When the two sides met at Anfield back in August 2025, it was Szoboszlai who proved decisive, hitting home a stunning 83rd-minute long range free kick to snatch all three points for Liverpool. That moment still lingers as a reminder that, on their day, Arne Slot’s men can hurt any opponent no matter the setting.
Thursday’s showdown now carries contrasting narratives. For Arsenal, it is another test of their title credentials and a chance to tighten their grip on the league. For Liverpool, it is an opportunity to reassert themselves, silence doubts, and back up Szoboszlai’s confident words with a statement performance and a push for Champions League football next season.
The Premier League crown may not be decided in January, as Szoboszlai rightly points out, but under the lights at the Emirates, the battle lines are firmly drawn and both sides know just how much is at stake.