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Dominik Szoboszlai did not raise his voice. He did not shout. He did not insult Arsenal. But with just a few calm words, the Liverpool midfielder managed to shake the entire Premier League conversation. What he said before Liverpool’s huge clash against Arsenal has gone viral, not because it was loud, but because it was fearless. In a season where narratives are being pushed daily, Szoboszlai stood firm and refused to bow to pressure.

Liverpool are travelling to the Emirates to face league leaders Arsenal in what is one of the biggest games of the season. On paper, the gap between the two clubs is massive. Fourteen points separate Arsenal at the top and Liverpool further down the table. Arsenal have been flying. Liverpool have been stumbling. Many people believe this match is about Arsenal proving they are champions in waiting. But Szoboszlai does not see it that way at all.

Instead, he turned the question around. And in doing so, he lit a fire.

For weeks now, Arsenal have been praised as the best team in England. Mikel Arteta’s side have won 15 of their first 20 league matches. They have lost just twice. They are organised, confident, aggressive, and hungry. Their football has been fast, brave, and ruthless. The Emirates has become a place opponents fear again. The title talk has grown louder with every win.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have lived a very different reality. After an early-season high point that included a famous win over Arsenal, everything began to fall apart. Injuries hit. Confidence dipped. Results collapsed. Six defeats in seven games destroyed momentum and belief. What once looked like another title charge quickly turned into a battle just to stay relevant.

Many people now see Liverpool as outsiders. Some even see them as irrelevant to the title race. But Szoboszlai does not accept that story. And that is exactly why his words mattered so much.

When asked if Liverpool were facing the champions at the Emirates, Szoboszlai laughed. Not in mockery, but in disbelief. His response was simple, honest, and powerful. The Premier League, he said, is not won in January. It is too long. Too hard. Too brutal. You do not crown champions halfway through the season. Then came the line that sent shockwaves through social media.

“We don’t play against the champions,” he said. “They play against the champions.”

In that moment, Szoboszlai reminded everyone who Liverpool are. This is a club built on belief. A club that has chased down impossible gaps before. A club that does not accept narratives written by television studios or headlines. Even when struggling, Liverpool still see themselves as champions until the title is mathematically gone.

That confidence did not come from nowhere. Szoboszlai already knows what it feels like to hurt Arsenal. Earlier this season, he scored a stunning free-kick in the reverse fixture, a goal that won the game and sent shockwaves through the league. At that time, questions were being asked about Arsenal’s mentality. Were they ready? Were they strong enough? Could they really go all the way?

Arsenal answered those questions brutally. After that defeat, Arteta’s men went on an incredible ten-game winning run. They crushed opponents. They controlled matches. They showed maturity and hunger. Suddenly, they were no longer chasing. They were leading.

Liverpool, on the other hand, fell apart.

Loss after loss followed. Confidence drained. The title dream faded. By the time the league reached January, the table told a painful story. Arsenal were clear. Manchester City were chasing. Aston Villa were pushing. Liverpool were slipping out of focus.

That is why Szoboszlai’s comments hit so hard. Many expected humility. Many expected acceptance. Instead, they got defianc, He did not deny Arsenal’s quality. In fact, he praised them. He called them an unbelievable team with really good players. He admitted they are one of the favourites. But he refused to place the crown on their heads. He reminded everyone that Manchester City still exist. That Aston Villa are having a brilliant season. That the Premier League does not forgive early celebrations. His words split opinion instantly.

Liverpool fans loved it.

To them, this was leadership. Mentality. Pride. Some even went as far as saying Szoboszlai should be the club’s next captain. They saw a player who understands what Liverpool stands for. A player who refuses to lower standards even in difficult moments. A player who believes in winning culture, not excuses.

Many fans praised his calm confidence. They admired the way he spoke without fear. They saw a midfielder who represents Liverpool’s identity, an identity built on resilience, belief, and refusal to surrender.

Arsenal fans, however, reacted very differently.

Some were angry. Some were irritated. Some felt disrespected. They did not like the tone. They did not like the confidence. They did not like the idea of Liverpool still calling themselves champions while sitting far behind in the table.

A section of the Emirates faithful immediately called for revenge. They wanted goals. They wanted humiliation. They wanted Szoboszlai to regret his words. To them, this was arrogance from a team with no right to speak.

Others believed the comments would come back to haunt him. They predicted a heavy Arsenal win. They warned him to be ready for the atmosphere, the pressure, and the noise. They believed football has a way of punishing bold statements.

But not all Arsenal fans blamed Szoboszlai.

Many were more annoyed with the media itself. They accused broadcasters of pushing a false narrative. They insisted that Arsenal fans themselves are not calling the title done. They argued that Sky Sports and others are desperate to create drama, to force a story that Arsenal are already champions so they can later talk about collapse.

To those fans, Szoboszlai was right to push back. The title is not finished. It is far from over. And Arsenal supporters, despite enjoying the ride, know how quickly football can turn.

That is what makes this match so important.

This is not just Arsenal versus Liverpool. This is belief versus form. Confidence versus momentum. Pride versus reality. Arsenal want to prove they are the real deal. Liverpool want to prove they still matter.

Last season’s clash at the Emirates ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw. Goals flew in. Emotions exploded. And this time, goals are expected again. Both teams play attacking football. Both teams have something to prove. Both teams know that one result can change everything.

For Arsenal, a win would be massive. Beating the defending champions would send a message to the entire league. It would reinforce their dominance. It would show they can handle pressure and expectation. It would push them closer to a title they have chased for years.

For Liverpool, a win would be even bigger. It would reopen the race. It would inject belief back into a wounded squad. It would remind everyone that writing off champions too early is dangerous. It would turn Szoboszlai’s words into prophecy instead of provocation.

Arne Slot knows the stakes. His first season in charge has been turbulent. Moments of promise followed by painful collapse. Injuries, inconsistency, and pressure have tested him. But games like this define managers. A win at the Emirates could change everything about how his reign is viewed.

Szoboszlai will be central to that battle. His energy, his confidence, his ability to strike from distance, and his leadership will be tested. Arsenal fans will not forget what he said. Every touch will be watched. Every pass judged. Every mistake punished by noise.

But this is exactly the stage Szoboszlai thrives on He does not hide. He does not shrink. He believes football is about courage, not comfort. And in a league where fear often decides outcomes, belief can be the most powerful weapon.

As kickoff approaches, the tension continues to rise. The Emirates will be loud. The pressure will be intense. The cameras will focus on Szoboszlai. And no matter what happens, his words have already ensured this match means more.Because sometimes, football is not just played with the ball. Sometimes, it is played with belief