Dominik Szoboszlai has declared that what Liverpool were “missing” under Arne Slot last season is now “back.”
Despite Liverpool’s consistently poor performances across the last year, Szoboszlai stood out as one of the very few bright notes of the campaign.
He was deservedly given the Reds’ player-of-the-season award and followed that up by signing a new five-year contract at the club.
The 25-year-old believes that the change from Slot to Andoni Iraola will benefit the team and that the intensity Liverpool “need” is back.
Asked about how the new coach is working out, Szoboszlai replied: “It’s very good.
“I think the intensity what we need, it’s here now. What we have been missing, it’s back from the coach side, from the players’ side as well.
“So now we have to put this together with the quality of the players we have and I think it’s going to be quite nice.”
The pace of play and apparent lack of fitness among the squad was one of fans’ chief complaints as Liverpool limped to Champions League qualification last season.
Iraola has been brought in to arrest the slump and bring a more exciting brand of football to Anfield, and we have already begun to see early signs of Liverpool’s style changing.
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Federico Chiesa celebrates with team-mate Dominik Szoboszlai (R) after scoring the third goal during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While Liverpool’s performances in their two friendlies so far have not been without mistakes, they are playing the ball forward quicker and pressing higher.
Szoboszlai added: “I think I can talk from everybody’s side that we want to be successful this season.
“It is long term. Obviously we have a new manager, the team has been changed and it’s maybe not in a couple of months, but in the long term I think it will work out.”
Stepping up to become a leader
Alongside signing his new contract, Szoboszlai has spoken of how he intends to step up into a leadership role.
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai applauds the supporters after a friendly match between Liverpool FC and AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. Liverpool won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While the new vice-captaincy isn’t guaranteed, he insists that a group of players will take on more responsibility in the coming years.
The Hungarian was asked about the squad’s leadership and an apparent argument he had with Curtis Jones on the pitch, following the Reds’ win over Wrexham.
He partially avoided the question by responding: “A couple of guys left and maybe we are not the oldest in the team, but we’ve been here a long time.
“For example, Flo is the same example, Ryan is the same example, Macca if he comes back, Curtis, Alex (Isak), obviously Virgil, Ali, Joey (Gomez). So we are all in the same boat and we want the best for the club and for each other.
“And that means we have a captain, Virgil. We will follow him every [time], what he and the gaffer are saying.”
If Liverpool can recreate the influential leadership group that propped up Jurgen Klopp, Iraola’s job will become considerably easier.