Dominik Szoboszlai has really come into his own over the last season or so, with the Hungary international becoming one of Liverpool’s best-performing midfielders.
The former RB Leipzig man formed an impressive partnership with Mohamed Salah during the 2024-25 campaign, with the attacking midfielder even getting his name on the scoresheet a fair few times.
But, with the £116million transfer of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, it’s unclear how both number 10s are going to fit into Arne Slot’s squad.
New Liverpool signing Florian Wirtz poses in a bucket hat and sunglasses after being unveiled at the AXA Training Centre.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
However, it’s not the choice of bringing Wirtz in that may have made Szoboszlai somewhat upset.
Arne Slot chooses to scrap the lactate test in Liverpool’s pre-season plans
One of the most notorious things to occur in Liverpool’s pre-season preparations over the last few years has been their lactate test.
James Milner was notoriously good at the test, with the Englishman winning it during each of the eight seasons he played for Liverpool.
However, as per a report from the Liverpool ECHO, it seems like Slot has scrapped the test completely.
The report shares that in its place now, the players just do multiple laps around the perimeter of the pitch before having their blood samples measured, rather than doing a run and then getting it checked each time.
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Why Dominik Szoboszlai might not be happy with Arne Slot
Since his arrival in 2023, Szoboszlai has always come out on top in the lactate test.
The Hungary international is one of Liverpool’s fittest players at the moment, with the test giving him a chance to stand out among his teammates.
And, while it’s not the end of the world for the test to have been replaced, it was likely a nice little boost for the Hungary international to prove to himself that he’s still got it.
As mentioned, Wirtz’s arrival means that there’s now even more competition for the number 10 spot in Liverpool’s starting XI.
Dominik Szoboszlai reacts during Hungary's friendly match against Sweden.
Photo by David Balogh/Getty Images
So, if Szoboszlai wants to prove that he deserves to be starting, he needs every little advantage he can get over the young German.
Otherwise, he may end up getting played out of position or even left on the bench.