Liverpool REJECT major Dominik Szoboszlai request | OneFootball

For the majority of people related to Liverpool, the game against Leipzig was simply another important match on the European cycle. A tough side, a dangerous opponent and a necessary victory.

But for Dominik Szoboszlai and Ibrahima Konate it was a return to their former homes, to the place where they went from boys to men, to the place where Liverpool found them.

Konate joined Liverpool from Leipzig back in 2021 for around £36m, whilst Szoboszlai made the move last summer for £60m.

With it being his first time back at the Red Bull Arena since heading to Merseyside, Leipzig wanted to present the Hungarian international with a bronze bull statue before kickoff as a token of their gratitude for his time spent at the club - a tradition for returning players.

BILD are reporting however that Liverpool requested that the ceremony not take place due to not wanting to distract Szoboszlai ahead of the important game.

This is actually alarmingly similar to what happened when Josko Gvardiol returned to play Leipzig after joining Manchester City last season. Pep Guardiola vetoed the ceremony then, despite Gvardiol being Leipzig’s most valuable sold asset ever.

The reunion with his former club’s bosses happened after the game instead, as evidenced on Leipzig’s Instagram page. Szoboszlai is flanked by Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO of Corporate Projects and New Investment as Red Bull, and Johann Plenge, Managing Director of RB Leipzig.