'He's my really good friend but I don't care': Szoboszlai sends strong warning to Haaland

Dominik Szoboszlai insists his close friendship with Erling Haaland will mean nothing when Liverpool go head to head with Manchester City this season. 

"Erling came here and showed himself, scored over 50 goals in a season," Szoboszlai said. I knew he was going to do it because I knew his quality, what he’s been doing for this. What he did last year and probably he is going to continue.

"But I am looking to continue for my team. We are friends but I am looking for myself. We didn’t speak about [where we will finish]. We won’t because when I am speaking with him, it is not about football.

"You don’t have to know [what we talk about]. He knows my family, I know his family a little bit. We speak about how they are, how he is. Everyday stuff, not the football, a little bit outside. But of course sometimes football is coming as well. So not always football.

"He is probably [living] two houses next to me. We were speaking but they played the [Super Cup] final in Greece, we have our trainings, we also play away. It is going to take time until we find a solution and we see each other. We will see. 

"He is my really good friend but I don't really care about that for these 95 or 100 minutes. He doesn't care as well, probably. This is normal. I am looking for myself and my team-mates to help and if I am going to score a last-minute goal I am even happier."

Asked which team could win the Premier League, he responded: “Us. No, I am not joking. I always think that way. Even if it is hard."

Szoboszlai and Haaland became close during their time at Red Bull Salzburg and the Reds midfielder has followed his friend's career closely since he departed for Borussia Dortmund at the start of 2020 before joining Man City last year.

The 22-year-old, who joined from RB Leipzig at the start of July, even sought advice from Haaland that included buying property in the North West before moving to England.