Liverpool lost much more than just their senior right-back when Trent Alexander-Arnold left Anfield this summer.
As had been expected throughout the entirety of last season, Alexander-Arnold signed for Real Madrid after the La Liga giants paid £8.5 million to sign the Scouser in time for the Club World Cup.
His departure left a sour taste in the mouths of all Liverpool supporters, as their boyhood star not only ran down his contract but Trent spoke perfect Spanish in his Madrid unveiling.
The Reds quickly signed Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen to provide competition for Conor Bradley for the right-back spot but they were all too aware of the creativity lost with Trent’s departure.
Jeremie Frimpong in action for Liverpool
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Although Florian Wirtz has been widely viewed as the man who will replace Alexander-Arnold’s creativity in the side, there is another player already on the books at Anfield who Arne Slot could look to help fill the void.
Dominik Szoboszlai can replicate Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool
According to The Athletic, Slot’s decision to deploy Dominik Szoboszlai in a deeper role for the Reds throughout pre-season is a glimpse into what the supporters can expect from the Hungarian this season.
The 24-year-old has endured a career at Anfield thus far full of highs and lows, but has since failed to replicate the form displayed at the business end of the pitch seen during his stint with RB Leipzig.
Nevertheless, Slot lauded Szoboszlai as “very important” to his Liverpool side last term, and it seems that competing against Alexis Mac Allister for the number 8 spot is the plan, a decision that has been well thought out by Slot and his team.
Liverpool v Athletic Club Bilbao - Pre-Season Friendly
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“Trent Alexander-Arnold played an important role in Liverpool’s build-up for years, particularly with his long passes down the line or across the pitch,” Andy Jones writes.
“Following his departure to Real Madrid this summer, Szoboszlai can provide that instead, as he did with the cross-field pass which began the move for Liverpool’s opening goal in the 3-2 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at the end of last season.
“Against Athletic Club, he began the move which nearly saw Wirtz score his first goal at Anfield, again with a clipped pass into the right channel.”
Steven Gerrard expects Dominik Szoboszlai to thrive in new role
A commendation from Steven Gerrard is not something to be taken lightly, particularly when the Reds legend is discussing midfielders.
The Liverpool legend named Szoboszlai when discussing which of the current crop of midfielders reminds him of himself during his playing days at Anfield.
Indeed, operating in the number 10 slot behind the striker has not panned out for Szoboszlai; a return of six goals and six assists in 36 Premier League outings is underwhelming for an attacking midfielder but remarkable for a deep-lying midfielder.
Of course, displacing Mac Allister from the starting XI will be no easy feat, but the prospect of the pair battling out to play alongside Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch is exactly the type of competition worthy of the English champions.
Liverpool v Athletic Club Bilbao - Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
With eyes set on retaining the league title and launching an attack on the Champions League this season, quality depth across the pitch will be required for the Reds to compete on all fronts.
Szoboszlai has proven, most notably during his purple patch periods at Anfield, that he can be an important cog in Slot’s side, and fingers crossed, the talisman we all know he can be; helping to fill the creative void left by Alexander-Arnold.