Szoboszlai capture will help re-establish Liverpool as title contenders

 

Alexis Mac Allister is on the books. Dominik Szoboszlai is set to follow. Newcastle were linked with the RB Leipzig star last week, but their decision to focus their efforts elsewhere meant the Reds had a clear shot at the Hungarian. Szoboszlai won’t come cheap, of course, with RB Leipzig looking at a significant financial windfall following the sale of Christopher Nkunku to Chelsea, but the young Hungary star will be worth the hefty fee. 

 

Without question, Szoboszlai is the poster boy for modern day Hungarian football. Only Mateo Kovacic (8.35) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (8.34) have earned a better WhoScored rating than Szoboszlai (8.32) in Euro 2024 qualifying having played a vital role in the Magyars’ impressive start to their campaign, picking up seven of an available nine points. 

 

The 22-year-old’s fine showings for his national team follow up what has been an excellent domestic campaign, where Szoboszlai made the WhoScored Bundesliga team of the season having yielded a rating of 7.32. Very much a star in the making, Szoboszlai may not fit the profile of central midfielders Liverpool have been linked with this summer - Khephren Thuram and Manu Kone are both very different players to the RB Leipzig man - but the versatility to his game means Jurgen Klopp will have a place for him in the Reds squad, even if that is in a midfield three. 

 

This is due to the decision to move Alexander-Arnold into a more advanced role as the season came to a head to maximise the right-back’s attacking qualities. Alexander-Arnold started in defence, but moved into midfield when Liverpool are in possession, which meant the Reds were effectively playing with a three-man defence when on top of opponents as Ibrahima Konate moved across the right when to fill the gap vacated by the 24-year-old. As a result, Klopp would have the chance to use Szoboszlai on the right of the midfield three safe in the knowledge the space he leaves behind when he presses up field is covered by Alexander-Arnold, and this allows the Hungary international to tear opposition defences apart. 

 

Fans can ultimately expect Liverpool to play a 3-2-2-3 formation when in possession next season, with Mac Allister joined by Szoboszlai as the more advanced pair to support the attack, which is where supporters will see the latter at his very best. Szoboszlai ranked fourth for key passes (71) in the Bundesliga last season, and that translated to eight assists, the ninth most in Germany’s top tier last term. 

 

 

There's also the desire to test the opposition from range, with Szoboszlai developing a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of 'long shots'. Only Leroy Sane (37) managed more shots from outside of the box than Szoboszlai (36) in the Bundesliga last season, and while he only found the back of the net twice from range, the confidence with which to go for goal from distance will aid Liverpool when they come up against deeper defences. 

 

Yet crucially, too, is that Szoboszlai is a versatile performer, who can operate in a more advanced midfield role or on either wing. Liverpool are blessed with ample attacking players who can perform anywhere across the frontline, and Szoboszlai is able to play on either the right or left flank if required. It's out wide where he can maximise his ability to pick out a teammate, having returned a cross accuracy of 40.7%, that the best of the 63 players to have attempted 50 or more crosses in Germany's top tier last term. 

 

Of course, he isn't the complete solution to Liverpool's midfield issues, but Szoboszlai is one that builds upon the impressive offensive options at Jurgen Klopp's disposal. In addition, Klopp hasn't really had a midfielder of the Hungarian's profile to call upon during his time at Liverpool, and this in turn affords the German greater tactical flexibility. 

 

Klopp would no longer need to remain steadfastly loyal to his 4-3-3 setup, though of course the fluidity of this Liverpool squad means it doesn't remain a 4-3-3 for long, meaning that the Reds boss can start his team in a 4-2-3-1 in order to start Szoboszlai in the number 10 role. Given the big-money addition's ability to play a number of positions, there is the possibility that Klopp could well develop Szoboszlai to play as the lone striker, with the willingness to drop deep allowing the wingers to utilise the space that would be vacated to go for goal.  

 

Szoboszlai is a costly capture, and he'll become Liverpool's third most expensive signing in their history. Having previously spent big to sign one midfielder from RB Leipzig, landing Naby Keita in 2017, the club will hope for a better return from their next big money capture from the Bundesliga side, but Szoboszlai has proven he has the tools to succeed for Klopp's Liverpool team.

Szoboszlai capture will help re-establish Liverpool as title contenders