Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola may face some difficult conversations over Dominik Szoboszlai's position, with Jamie Carragher warning about some concerns for the near future.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford
Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool may have an awkward discussion over right-backs again soon(Image: (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images))
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes that Andoni Iraola may need to hold an awkward conversation with Dominik Szoboszlai about a permanent move to right-back.
It follows the playmaker featuring there last season as emergency cover, following injury issues for the likes of Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, and Joe Gomez. While Szoboszlai has admitted that he will play there if necessary, he has underlined his preference to play in midfield, which has been where he has thrived the most over the course of his career.
Considering those right-back issues, Liverpool made the surprise call against finding a new player for that position in the summer transfer window, which could now force a switch for the 25-year-old in the coming weeks and months if another issue arises.
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It's a concern that former star Carragher believes will need to be dealt with, with a potentially awkward conversation coming up about a possible change of position.
Speaking on Stick To Football, he said: "The big thing he (Iraola) has got, and it happened last season and at the weekend, Szoboszlai went back to right-back. I've never believed Szoboszlai is a central midfield player.
"Now, he's signed a new contract and I can only imagine in those talks, they were desperate for him to stay, he's almost said 'I want to play midfield'. He's moved around a bit and he started the season in central midfield. I don't see him as that.
"For me, in midfield he's a Jordan Henderson. Runner, energy, with more of a goal threat. But Liverpool don't play that way and he's not really a No. 10. His best role could actually be at right-back. He'd get plenty of the ball, he can run and almost play that Trent role from there.
Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool
Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
"But there's no way he's going to want to play there because he's just signed a new contract for £350,000 [$475,000] a week. You've just done this big thing, he's the vice-captain, I just think that's a conversation Iraola is going to have to have going forward, because the midfield is not right and he's part of that midfield not being right."
Not only does it bring up questions about Szoboszlai's place in the team, but also some of the planning surrounding the use of full-backs within the team.
There have been plenty of critics of Liverpool's backline options, with Milos Kerkez struggling to find his best form, while Frimpong has faced similar difficulties, mixed in with some struggles with injuries.
Gary Neville was particularly critical of both the left-backs and right-backs available at Liverpool, as he continued: "I'm stunned. The two full-backs (Kerkez and Frimpong), it was quite clear at the start of last season when you watched them for five or six matches that defensively they weren't going to be quite at the level to do it. I'm stunned, will Liverpool regret not bringing players in there?"
It remains to be seen how the manager will cope with the concerns at full-back, and whether that will result in moving someone like Szoboszlai, or if he will somehow get more out of the stars who have struggled there so far.