Arne Slot has been sent the perfect message by Liverpool's two most consistent performers despite their challenging start to the 2025/26 season
Arne Slot has been sent a welcome Liverpool message by Dominik Szoboszlai and Hugo Ekitike
Arne Slot has been sent a welcome Liverpool message by Dominik Szoboszlai and Hugo Ekitike
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Not many Liverpool players could argue they have performed consistently but Dominik Szoboszlai and Hugo Ekitike are two that certainly can and they have just sent the perfect message to Arne Slot. The Premier League champions sit eighth in the Premier League table despite having won their first five games.
Bournemouth, Newcastle United, Arsenal, Everton and Burnley were all beaten by Liverpool in the first five weeks of the season but problems were evident in those outings and they brutally came to the fore in defeats to Crystal Palace, Brentford and both Manchester clubs.
Galatasaray also beat Slot's side in the Champions League but Liverpool responded well to that European setback with dominant wins over Eintracht Frankfurt and Real Madrid. The latter triumph came four days on from an impressive display and result against Aston Villa.
However, suggestions that Liverpool were back were squashed last weekend when Manchester City barely got out of second gear and still won 3-0 at Etihad Stadium.
Slot had gone back to basics for the two prior victories with Andy Robertson at left-back and all of Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch in midfield. However, that did not matter in the slightest as Pep Guardiola's side were a level above.
Even Szoboszlai and Ekitike, who have arguably been Liverpool's two most consistent performers in this campaign, could not impact proceedings but Slot will have confidence that they can help turn their season around.
Their quality was on full display on Thursday evening as both players contributed directly to goals for their respective international teams. Up against Armenia in a huge World Cup qualifier, Szoboszlai put in the cross for Barnabas Varga to head home with Hungary winning 1-0.
Later in the evening, Ekitike was introduced in the 67th minute of France's clash against Ukraine. Kylian Mbappe had already put Didier Deschamps' side in front with Ekitike helping his nation rack up a more convincing win.
(Image: (AP Photo/Christophe Ena))
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Michael Olise bagged a second just after he came on before the Liverpool striker set up an Mbappe tap-in after he inadvertently directed the ball into the Real Madrid star's path. Just before the 90th minute mark, the duo combined in far better fashion.
After picking up the ball on the left at the halfway line, Ekitike drove forward powerfully before playing a swift one-two with Mbappe on the edge of the box with the 23-year-old then smart tucking away a first-time effort.
Direct goal contributions for Szoboszlai and Ekitike on international duty are unlikely to overly bother Slot, but it is a good sign that both are having and ready to continue making an impact. It is far more likely that the Liverpool boss just wants his players to all return to the AXA Training Centre free of injury.
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