NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Dominik Szoboszlai could find himself starting at right-back again in the coming weeks, with Andoni Iraola insisting there is no friction over a change of position.
Szoboszlai filled in at right-back in the latter stages of Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest after Jeremie Frimpong made way.
It followed a regular stint in the role last season, but having signed a new five-year contract this summer and taken the vice-captaincy, there had been suggestions the Hungarian may no longer wish to do so.
But speaking ahead of a trip to Ipswich which could feasibly see Szoboszlai start at right-back, Iraola insisted no player had refused to play a certain role.
“Since I started here I’ve talked to a lot of players about their position, where they prefer to play,” he told reporters.
“But I haven’t found any situations where any player has told me: ‘No, I don’t want to play here’.
“Everyone has shown the right attitude.
“I know more or less the perfect position for everyone. Sometimes it’s the same, I think, from their [perspective].
Unexpected token '<', " Try again “Sometimes I say, ‘OK, I see you maybe more here’, and we have discussions. But everyone is ready to help. “If we have to play him as a right winger, as a right-back, as a left-back, I think he’s ready to do it. “He wants to help the team first and it’s good also to have players who can cover different positions, especially now that we have some injuries. “We need this versatility from the players. Having players like Dom, for me, it’s very valuable, because in games they allow me to change not the players, but the positions.” Andoni Iraola stresses the importance of versatility LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 29, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda) LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 29, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda) The potential need for Szoboszlai at right-back comes with Frimpong continuing to underperform and Conor Bradley remaining sidelined for the long term. Joe Gomez is nearing a return from injury but it remains to be seen whether he or loan signing Ronald Araujo would even be ahead of the No. 8 in the pecking order. “The challenge now in our squad is that we have,” Iraola continued. “For example you ask for right-back, we don’t have Conor Bradley or Joe Gomez right now. We definitely look thin, yes. “But if you take two players from every position injured, you will look thin, always. “Now we are in that situation, that’s why I value Dominik Szoboszlai who can play right-back, Ronald Araujo who can also play right-back. “This versatility in the players helps us to go through these moments in the season where we will have injuries. “Now it’s right-back, but maybe in two months we’re talking about other positions, and then for me it’s very valuable to have players who can cover us during these moments where we’re thin.” Football – Pre-Season Friendly – Liverpool FC v AS Monaco LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo is challenged by Monaco's Lamine Camara (L) during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda) barcolairaola