Dominik Szoboszlai opens up on Liverpool's midfield struggles, his new tactical role under Andoni Iraola, and why he committed his future to the Reds.
Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur - Carabao Cup Third Round
Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur - Carabao Cup Third Round | Simon Stacpoole/Offside/GettyImages
Remember that absolute thunderbolt Dominik Szoboszlai smashed past Tottenham in that thrilling 3-1 win?
Moments like that remind us just how explosive the Hungarian can be. But right now, the midfielder isn't just making headlines for his long-range rockets he’s at the centre of a massive tactical transition under head coach Andoni Iraola.
It was a strike worth the price of admission alone and a timely reminder of just how explosive he can be, especially right as his early-season performances under Andoni Iraola were drawing scrutiny.
When you sit back and look at the broader landscape of Liverpool Football Club right now, it is safe to say that the atmosphere around the club is a fascinating mix of anxiety and cautious optimism. Supporters have certainly had their fair share of cofusion trying to figure out how this team is going to click under the new management.
Along with the full-back positions, Liverpool’s midfield has been the absolute biggest worry for fans during Andoni Iraola’s time as head coach so far. Granted, it is still early days in the season, but the Reds appear to be just as open and porous as they were last term, leaving supporters biting their nails whenever the opposition transitions quickly.
Particular scrutiny has fallen on Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, who have attracted plenty of criticism for their apparent inability to keep things tight together in the midfield.
It feels as though every single misplaced pass or missed interception is heavily analyzed on social media and phone-in shows. Iraola undeniably has a massive job on his hands to get this Liverpool side functioning properly, but as Szoboszlai himself pointed out, it is also very much a case of the players getting used to doing things slightly differently.
Sitting down with Sky Sports after Saturday’s disappointing draw against Fulham, the Hungarian international gave a fascinating insight into how the likes of him, Gravenberch, and Alexis Mac Allister are getting used to working much more as a cohesive partnership.
One of the glaring problems about Liverpool’s midfield on Saturday was its utter inability to get the press right. Whenever they tried to win the ball back off either Sander Berge, Shea Charles, or any other Fulham player, they seemed to come away chasing shadows, completely exposed by quick passing triangles and clever movement.
According to Szoboszlai, the fundamental difficulty lies in the individual players getting used to what Iraola is explicitly asking from them, and taking much more notice of where each other is positioned on the pitch at any given second. Assessing how they have adapted so far, the 25-year-old admitted candidly that it hasn’t always worked out on the pitch. Reflecting on these growing pains, Szoboszlai offered this explanation:
“I think everybody should have in them that ‘if he’s gone I have to stay, if he’s gone I have to stay’. We have to take care of each other more and more, which didn’t maybe work out in the last weeks but it’s also something that we’re not used to, that we go all the time. But now we go, so we know that sometimes someone has to stay. This is a learning process, but now we know.”
Beyond just the collective responsibilities of the unit, Szoboszlai also confirmed that he has been asked to play a slightly new, unfamiliar role by Iraola. What makes this tactical shift even more intriguing is that Mac Allister’s position has also been adjusted, meaning both players are now operating much deeper on the pitch, much closer to Liverpool’s defensive line than fans became accustomed to last season. Detailing these positional changes, the midfielder explained:
“I’m playing a little bit deeper than last season or the season before. Like an 8, sometimes a 6, sometimes a 10. So, actually I play in the midfield everywhere, sometimes right-back also! I’m happy to do it, maybe the fans will be happy as well? I will do anything for the team, if they need me there I will play there. We have the same type of players as last season, but my role changed in that I come a little bit deeper and also Macca’s role changed, he comes a little bit deeper because he was an 8 last season. Now he’s more of a 6 I think. It depends who’s playing and then we have to adapt to each other.”
Even though he has admittedly struggled at times to adapt smoothly to these demanding new tactical requirements, Szoboszlai maintains that he has genuinely enjoyed the challenge all the same. For a player with his athletic profile and relentless work ethic, winning the ball back is an inherently enjoyable and fulfilling part of the beautiful game. Expanding on his mentality toward defensive work, he noted:
“I like it. It’s made for me, because I like to fight against the ball, I love when we have the ball more than when they have the ball, but there’s going to be some times when they have the ball. In the Premier League there are good teams, not only us, so they will have the ball and then you have to react. The reaction all the time should be ‘I want the ball back’, and if you want the ball back you have to work for it.”
As well as talking extensively about Liverpool’s midfield machinery as a whole, Szoboszlai also touched on his own personal situation at the club, looking back at his commitment to sign a new contract with the Reds over the summer. In a climate where players are often quick to look for exits when things get tough, his dedication speaks volumes about his belief in the project. Speaking about his long-term vision, he stated:
“I want to be here as long as I can and help the team win as much as possible. I know we can do it, I really believe it and it’s time to show it because the words are sometimes big, now we have to act as well. I know and I really believe that this club, this team, this manager can achieve so much and be able to compete at the highest level for a very long time and in every competition and I really believe it, and I wanted to stay and be here after the last season to know this was a failure, which we learn from it and now we have to show it will not happen like that [again].”
Finally, looking ahead toward the distant future of the club, the conversation turned to leadership. Asked directly whether becoming Liverpool captain is one of his ultimate personal goals, Szoboszlai confirmed without hesitation that he is hoping to take on that incredible honor once Virgil van Dijk eventually departs Anfield:
“Of course, if they put you as Liverpool captain, there’s nothing bigger than that and I’m happy to take it.”
it is clear that Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool revolution is still very much a work in progress. The teething problems are real, the defensive vulnerabilities remain glaring, and the midfield partnership is still searching for its definitive rhythm. Yet, amid the tactical growing pains and the lingering frustrations from results like the draw against Fulham, there is a refreshing sense of accountability coming from the dressing room.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s willingness to shoulder the tactical burden, embrace a deeper and more fluid role, and commit his long-term future to the club speaks volumes about his character.