Arne Slot has full faith in Dominik Szoboszlai to fill in as right-back at Newcastle, with the No. 8 starting there because of “how good of a defender he also is.”
Szoboszlai will start at right-back against Newcastle following injury to Jeremie Frimpong, with both Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez only fit enough for the bench.
It remains to be seen if Bradley is even ready to be called upon as a substitute, while Gomez is expected to play a maximum of 20 minutes.
There is a likelihood, then, that Szoboszlai could play the full 90 minutes as a makeshift right-back, with Slot insisting he has every faith in the Hungarian to perform in the role.
“We think the best fit is Dominik Szoboszlai,” he told Sky Sports ahead of kickoff.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Monday, August 25, 2025: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai arrives before the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“Because although he was an attacking midfielder last season, and he is an attacking midfielder, if you see the work rate, how good of a defender he also is, we think he is able to play there.”
Szoboszlai did play as a right-back on occasion during pre-season, including a strong showing in the role in a behind-closed-doors friendly win over Stoke at the AXA Training Centre.
He clearly boasts the natural fitness to operate as a full-back, while his ability to press and win possession will be crucial.
Slot did also have Wataru Endo and Curtis Jones as possible options in the role, but the former instead remains on the bench while the latter starts alongside Ryan Gravenberch in midfield.
Gravenberch and Jones both came into the side as the only changes from the Premier League opener against Bournemouth.
Alexis Mac Allister also dropped out along with Frimpong, though the midfielder’s absence is as yet unexplained.