Liverpool had to make do without Dominik Szoboszlai for only the second time in the Premier League this season as they faced Sunderland on Wednesday night.
The Hungarian has been a pivotal player for Arne Slot this season having stepped up when others have failed to deliver.
But while Szoboszlai has deserved the acclaim which has come his way this term, there is another side to his game which few Liverpool supporters seem willing to accept. He is petulant at times, a little lax and is guilty of coasting.
Change my mind: Liverpool would be CRAZY to let Konate leave 😣
He is back to his best!
Ibrahima Konate battles with Brian Brobbey during Liverpool's Premier League match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light (Credit: Getty Images/Stu Forster).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Stu Forster
Nevertheless, there were worries that Liverpool would not cope without him at right-back or in midfield at an impenetrable Stadium of Light on Wednesday. But, just as they did during his other suspension-enforced absence against Wolves, the Reds came away with a victory.
In doing so, and by putting in a very accomplished performance, Liverpool busted the myth that Szoboszlai is the key player who they simply must build around. The stark truth is that he is simply another important cog in the Reds’ machine.
Liverpool can cope without Dominik Szoboszlai
It has been somewhat easily forgotten, but when Liverpool signed Florian Wirtz last summer there were question marks over whether Szoboszlai would even keep his place in the team.
There was a reason for that beyond the No. 8 playing as Slot’s most advanced midfielder last season. He also had not delivered on the scale of fellow midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister as the Reds won the Premier League last term.
Liverpool players celebrate goal against Sunderland
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
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Although he has undoubtedly stepped it up this season, he also has not been especially good of late, reverting back to some of the frustrating displays that became all too frequent last year.
His stunning goal on the day masked an underwhelming performance at right-back against Man City for Szoboszlai, topped off by a needless red card which could have really damaged Liverpool.
That it didn’t is credit to his teammates, who delivered a mature, assured performance in a really tough away ground to show that they deserve more than to be labelled as the ‘Szoboszlai team’ this season, a moniker some seem more than willing to grant them.
Unpopular opinion: Dominik Szoboszlai’s importance to Liverpool is massively overblown 🫨
The Reds have won 2/2 matches he's missed this season…
Dominik Szoboszlai covers his face after missing a chance during Liverpool's Premier League match against Aston Villa at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC
Florian Wirtz is Liverpool’s best player
If Szoboszlai is not, as it turns out, Liverpool’s most important and indeed best player this season, then it begs the question of who is?
On Wednesday, Wirtz answered that in emphatic style. He may not have had a hand in the only goal of the game, but it was he who stole the show throughout an excellent 90 minutes.
After his early season struggles, Wirtz has now emerged as the one player who Liverpool simply cannot do without. If he is missing, where does that creative spark come from? Maybe Szoboszlai, but he does not possess the ability to create something from nothing like his German counterpart.
Hugo Ekitike is another who deserves a mention, but with the Frenchman off his game in the North East, it was Wirtz who put the team on his back.
Liverpool will need Szoboszlai again this season, and he is having an excellent campaign, but between his ridiculous penalty-box backheel against Barnsley and his unnecessary red card vs City, there are signs that he has perhaps begun to believe his own hype. Had he been watching on Wednesday, he would have seen that he still needs the help of a few of his teammates, too.
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