Dominik Szoboszlai continues to show he is a player who can step up when the going becomes tougher for Liverpool this season
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Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool
Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool(Image: Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
The sight of Dominik Szoboszlai seizing up during the closing stages at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon spoke volumes. After all, this was a game the Liverpool midfielder clearly didn't want to end.
"I can't remember the last time I got cramp, but it was bad!" laughed Szoboszlai after the game. "I said to Ali (Alisson Becker) at the end of the game that I'd rather play against teams like this than those who sit back as there was so much space behind them, especially when we have players like we have who can get in behind.
"We know the timing well, so we're going to have so many chances. We got the counter-attacks right as well."
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Small wonder Szoboszlai revelled in the surrounds, scoring one well-taken goal, having a key part in several others and constantly breaking the lines of a Tottenham side that was ultimately fortunate to escape with a 6-3 defeat.
But while few opponents will be quite as accommodating as the Londoners this season, the Hungarian's performance - arguably his best in a Liverpool shirt - continued an encouraging trend during his Anfield career. Szoboszlai keeps proving himself a player for the difficult occasion.
There was evidence of that the previous weekend at home to Fulham when, with the Reds reduced to 10 men for the majority of the game following the early sending-off of Andy Robertson, Szoboszlai ran himself into the ground to ensure Liverpool earned a 2-2 draw that could easily have been transformed into a remarkable win.
The 24-year-old's other stellar performances this term came in wins at Manchester United and at home to Manchester City, providing a goal for Mohamed Salah in the former. All four of his assists this season have been for the Egyptian, who returned the compliment against Tottenham at the weekend.
"I wish every game I could give Mo an assist and he can give me one also," said Szoboszlai. "We understand each other very well and I have to know Mo is always screaming my name, even when he’s not free he is screaming my name.
"You can see every game he does his job, scores and assists. He helps us every time with everything, not only on the pitch but outside the pitch also.”
With Harvey Elliott - so impressive during pre-season in the number 10 role - now back available, Szoboszlai knows he has a further challenge for his jersey having briefly been bumped out of the first team by Curtis Jones earlier in the campaign. Szoboszlai's form suggest both he and the team are benefiting from the increased competition for places.
Reds boss Arne Slot challenged Szoboszlai earlier this year to produce more numbers from the attacking midfield role, and he has already matched his tally of assists for the whole of last campaign although his goals total of three is less than half the seven he managed last time out.
The Hungarian, though, looks far more comfortable in the Liverpool midfield this season, his role simplified by Slot's decision to primarily play him as as a number 10. It also helps that he is no longer restricted by the fitness and form concerns that hampered him during the second half of last season and ruined his European Championships. Szoboszlai is once again the player who began in barnstorming fashion after his £60million move from RB Leipzig 18 months ago.
"I always try to do my best," he added. "Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But I hope I can help the team all the time.
"It's such a great team with such good guys. With the players who you dream to play with. Hopefully we can keep this team as long as possible and I wish I can keep helping."