Dominik Szoboszlai struggled on the again finish of his debut season and is among the gamers Arne Slot can oversee a change of trajectory for as he brings new concepts to the desk.
The Hungary captain made an instantaneous impression at Anfield, incomes himself comparisons to a legendary No. 8 along with his vitality and thunderous placing skills.
Because the season progressed, nevertheless, Szoboszlai’s affect waned and the calls for of the Premier League caught up with him – making certain he couldn’t dwell as much as his personal expectations.
He admitted in Could, “Maybe I set the bar too excessive as a result of I believe there have been sure matches the place I couldn’t carry out the most effective in myself.”
The problem now then will probably be to show a nook, and he has Slot to assist with simply that. However how can the Dutchman get the most effective out of the 23-year-old?
Rediscover his mojo
Szoboszlai set the bar extremely excessive in his early days on the membership, he injected contemporary legs right into a midfield that seemed minimize off at its knees the earlier season.
Earlier than 2023 was over, he had 4 objectives and two assists and seemed the participant Liverpool had been crying out for, along with his creativity, drive and talent to make issues occur giving the staff a brand new dimension.
The second half of the marketing campaign, although, noticed him tire from the calls for, wrestle to bounce again from damage and look half the participant he was from the beginning of the season.
The midfielder ended the marketing campaign beginning simply two of the Reds’ closing eight fixtures, however he had nonetheless proven sufficient, that there’s extra to return.
At present on his summer time break after including an extra 417 minutes to his enjoying complete throughout 2023/24 – which concluded with 3,841 for membership and nation mixed – Slot’s first job is to see Szoboszlai rediscover his mojo.
That swagger, the one which gave off the impression he’s untouchable, should return with ample relaxation and downtime, but in addition in a system that performs to his strengths.
Leaning into the No. 10
In his first press convention as Liverpool’s new head coach, Slot refuted the concept that he performed a 4-2-3-1 at Feyenoord, as a substitute explaining his philosophy is fluid.
He defined: “I hoped if folks checked out my staff they’d not say it’s 4-2-3-1 or it’s 4-3-3 or no matter formation you need to name it.
“I hoped they’d say there’s lots of freedom once they have the ball to take it in numerous positions.
“So typically it’s a 4-2-3-1; typically it’s a 4-1-4-1; typically we do construct up with three. So there’s lots of ‘freedom’ when we’ve got the ball.”
That notion of ‘freedom’ that Slot speaks of is the place Szoboszlai can thrive, in an attacking No. 10 place that leans on his attacking instincts and is extra consistent with his position for Hungary.
At worldwide degree, the midfielder has 5 objectives and 4 assists throughout his final 10 outings within the place we’re talking of, which won’t have gone unnoticed by Slot.
Liverpool should not quick on No. 10 choices, however pushing the 23-year-old barely ahead would permit him to faucet into his attack-minded recreation, be nearer to objective and nonetheless harness his urgent skill.
“After we don’t have the ball there’s not a lot freedom,” Slot expanded. “We need to be actually aggressive and there’s just one approach, and that’s everyone principally retains his place.”
Szoboszlai may be disciplined, and aggressive and might thrive with the liberty to play his pure recreation, all in a system that encourages creativity and play within the opposition’s half.
Slot’s Feyenoord scored 11 objectives within the Eredivisie from excessive turnovers final season – a number one quantity throughout Europe’s high seven leagues – and Szoboszlai may be key in returning comparable numbers in 2024/25.
Whereas the Dutchman’s fashion is loads much less chaotic than Jurgen Klopp‘s, preferring a extra methodical method, that he has two deeper midfielders will give the Hungarian a priceless security web.
We noticed on the again finish of final season that he was careless with the ball, a symptom of his psychological and bodily fatigue, and it will should be managed by Slot and his employees.
He’ll proceed to be a key cog for Hungary and managing his health and recreation time will probably be crucial to getting probably the most out of him for a sustained interval, fairly than the burst we noticed final marketing campaign.
However confidence has already been voiced over Slot’s skill to get the most effective out of Szoboszlai.
“He will probably be higher”
Szoboszlai can have learnt loads from his debut marketing campaign at Anfield and whereas he’ll once more undergo a transition section with Slot, there may be optimism over his new beginnings.
And, apparently, Slot’s former teammate and training colleague, Julian Jenner, backed the 23-year-old to enhance below the tutelage of his new head coach.
“I believe he will probably be even higher than he’s now,” Jenner instructed journalist Bence Bocsak. “He’s going to have a coach who likes to play within the opponent’s half and be very inventive.
“He makes a plan for his central defenders and backline and defensive midfielders to play always to [the attacking midfielders], the gamers free, clever, and artistic.
“Szoboszlai is a really inventive participant, you’ll be able to see already he takes the Hungarian staff along with his personal palms, he does mainly the whole lot alone. I believe he will probably be higher than he’s now.”
Slot has a historical past of bettering gamers and values his skill to take action, Teun Koopmeiners, Orkun Kokcu, Quinten Timber, Luis Sinisterra and Yankuba Minteh are amongst them.
Szoboszlai has loads of gears nonetheless to go up into and Slot can play an enormous position in seeing him fulfil his potential, and extra, at Liverpool.
