The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with Florian Wirtz scoring for Liverpool before Marcus Edwards equalized for the Clarets, costing the hosts vital points in their push for a top-four finish.
The incident occurred around the 31st-32nd minute when Cody Gakpo was fouled inside the box by Burnley’s Florentino Luís (or Florentino Luis, as reported variably). The referee pointed to the spot without hesitation, and former Everton midfielder Leon Osman later confirmed it was a clear penalty: “Unnecessary from a Burnley point of view and nine times out of 10, that is a penalty.” Szoboszlai, stepping up for his first spot-kick since November 2021, blasted the ball powerfully—but it smashed off the crossbar and flew over, leaving the score at 0-0 at that stage.
“How can a player of his quality miss a penalty like that?” echoed the sentiment across social media and fan forums. Szoboszlai, known for his composure, long-range strikes, and technical brilliance (often described as a “magician” in midfield), has been a key figure in Arne Slot’s system this season. His miss was his first from the spot in over four years, adding to the shock value. Reports noted it was a “crucial” error that haunted Liverpool, as they dominated possession (around 73%) and created numerous chances but failed to convert enough, settling for a frustrating point against the second-bottom side.
The Hungarian midfielder’s overall performance drew mixed reviews in player ratings: some outlets gave him a 6/10, praising his endeavor but criticizing the lack of guile to consistently break down Burnley’s resilient defense and, of course, the missed opportunity from 12 yards. Despite the setback, Liverpool pushed on—Wirtz fired home a superb finish before halftime (assisted by Curtis Jones after strong play from Hugo Ekitike), making it four goals in his last six games. Burnley, however, showed fight in the second half, with Edwards capitalizing to level at 65 minutes.
The draw extended Liverpool’s unbeaten run to 12 matches but highlighted ongoing issues: failure to beat any of the promoted sides at home this season, defensive strains (with Conor Bradley out long-term), and the absence of Mohamed Salah (still at AFCON). Fans vented on platforms like X, with clips of the miss circulating widely—some calling it a “howler” that summed up the season’s inconsistencies, others noting Burnley’s goalkeeper Martin Dubravka made key saves to frustrate the Reds further.
Slot’s post-match comments (as inferred from reports) likely focused on the need for clinical finishing and better game management, especially with Wataru Endo potentially key in closing out leads. The result left Liverpool in fourth but under pressure, while Burnley gained a valuable point in their survival battle.
In a match full of dominance but lacking ruthlessness, Szoboszlai’s miss stood out as the defining “what if” moment—proving even top talents can falter under pressure in the unforgiving Premier League spotlight. (Word count: 852)
