The national team manager of Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai has launched a cheap dig at Arne Slot. But in better news for the Reds boss, Florian Wirtz was in scintillating form for his country ahead of the return to club action next weekend.
Liverpool head coach Slot currently has seven first-team players sidelined by injury. Little wonder, then, speaking after the disappointing 2-1 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion, he made a plea to the international managers who will be looking after his players over the next week.
“I think the players need a break more than the manager,” Slot told Match of the Day. “Unfortunately, they have to keep on playing.
“Let’s hope that their national team coaches do understand that at Liverpool, a lot of players have played a lot of minutes, like at other clubs, but I think other clubs perhaps could have rotated more than I could have this season.
“So, let’s hope that we’ve got national team coaches that will not play them 180 minutes over two games.”
However, those words appeared to have rankled with Hungary's Marco Rossi, whose squad contains two Reds stars in versatile midfielder Szoboszlai and left-back Milos Kerkez.
Hungary host Slovenia today (Saturday) and then Greece on Tuesday and speaking ahead of the first of the two friendlies, Rossi said: “I have never spoken to Slot personally. Accordingly, I have never had a say in when the Liverpool head coach, for example, will play Szoboszlai as a defender.
“But I would also expect him not to interfere in my work. If Dominik wants to rest, of course I would let him.
“But everyone knows how important the national team jersey is to him as the team captain. What is important for us now is to end these two matches with a good result.”
Szoboszlai, of course, has been utilised on a number of occasions this season at right-back for Liverpool given the issues Slot has had and continues to have in that position.
But that has not stopped the Hungary skipper from plundering 12 goals in all competitions already.
Another player back in the goals is Wirtz, who produced what he admitted was his best performance in a Germany shirt in last night's (Friday) thrilling 4-3 win at Switzerland.
The playmaker set up Germany's first two goals and then scored two himself including a sumptuous effort from the corner of the box, which he modestly admitted wasn't entirely meant. His second was a superb finish, too.
“Probably yes,” Wirtz said when he was asked whether it was his best performance for his national side. “I'd be lying if I said I meant it to go exactly there for the first goal, but you can see that's exactly where I wanted the ball to go for the second one.”
They were Wirtz's first goals after eight games without one and his performance sent a clear warning that he is rediscovering his best form ahead of the huge FA Cup quarter-final at Manchester City after a back injury halted his progress.
But the German is not the only Liverpool man finding their shoots boot before the trip to the Etihad on Saturday week (April 4).
After striker Hugo Ekitike doubled France's advantage in their 2-1 triumph over Brazil on Thursday, captain Virgil van Dijk headed Netherlands level in their 2-1 home win over Norway last night.
It was the centre-back's seventh goal for club and country this season.
Van Dijk was joined in the Netherlands' starting line-up by Reds team-mates Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo, who both played 82 minutes. Jeremie Frimpong remained as an unused substitute.
Alexis Mac Allister, meanwhile, played most of the match as Argentina beat Mauritania 2-1.
