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 putting talents.
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 feel there have been sure matches the place I couldn’t deliver out the very best in myself.”
The problem now then shall be to show a nook, and he has Slot to assist with simply that. However how can the Dutchman get the very best out of the 23-year-old?
Rediscover his mojo
Szoboszlai set the bar extremely excessive in his early days on the membership, he injected recent legs right into a midfield that appeared lower off at its knees the earlier season.
Earlier than 2023 was over, he had 4 objectives and two assists and appeared the participant Liverpool had been crying out for, along with his creativity, drive and skill to make issues occur giving the group a brand new dimension.
The second half of the marketing campaign, although, noticed him tire from the calls for, battle 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’ remaining eight fixtures, however he had nonetheless proven sufficient, that there’s extra to come back.
At the moment on his summer time break after including an additional 417 minutes to his taking part in 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, must 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 individuals checked out my group they’d not say it’s 4-2-3-1 or it’s 4-3-3 or no matter formation you wish to name it.
“I hoped they’d say there’s a whole lot of freedom after they have the ball to take it in several 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 a whole lot of ‘freedom’ when we have now 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 usually are not brief on No. 10 choices, however pushing the 23-year-old barely ahead would permit him to faucet into his attack-minded sport, be nearer to aim and nonetheless harness his urgent means.
“After we don’t have the ball there’s not a lot freedom,” Slot expanded. “We wish to be actually aggressive and there’s just one manner, and that’s all people largely retains his place.”
Szoboszlai may be disciplined, and aggressive and might thrive with the liberty to play his pure sport, 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 prime seven leagues – and Szoboszlai may be key in returning comparable numbers in 2024/25.
Whereas the Dutchman’s model is rather a lot much less chaotic than Jurgen Klopp‘s, preferring a extra methodical strategy, that he has two deeper midfielders will give the Hungarian a beneficial security internet.
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 workers.
He’ll proceed to be a key cog for Hungary and managing his health and sport time shall be crucial to getting essentially the most out of him for a sustained interval, somewhat than the burst we noticed final marketing campaign.
However confidence has already been voiced over Slot’s means to get the very best out of Szoboszlai.
“He shall be higher”
Szoboszlai may have learnt rather a lot 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 feel he shall be even higher than he’s now,” Jenner advised journalist Bence Bocsak. “He’s going to have a coach who likes to play within the opponent’s half and be very artistic.
“He makes a plan for his central defenders and backline and defensive midfielders to play continuously to [the attacking midfielders], the gamers free, clever, and artistic.
“Szoboszlai is a really artistic participant, you may see already he takes the Hungarian group along with his personal palms, he does mainly every little thing alone. I feel he shall be higher than he’s now.”
Slot has a historical past of enhancing gamers and values his means 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.
