Seeing Dominik Szoboszlai line up at right-back for Liverpool’s match against Nottingham Forest on Sunday was an unwelcome surprise for supporters.
The Hungarian may have made the position somewhat his own over recent weeks, but he had been expected to make a return to midfield at the City Ground.
Joe Gomez looked likely to start following Arne Slot‘s admission that he was ready to play again, but the Liverpool head coach instead chose to keep Szoboszlai in.
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Mohamed Salah shakes Arne Slot's hand as he comes off during Liverpool's Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground (Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC).
Photo Creidt; Getty Images/Liverpool FC
Fortunately for Liverpool fans, the experiment did not last long. After Jones made a woeful start to the game, Slot decided to switch things up.
The Scouser moved to right-back, allowing Szoboszlai to return and add some much-needed stability to the midfield. And after seeing his gamble spectacularly backfire in Nottingham, Slot must now scrap any and all plans to continue playing his No. 8 in defence.
Liverpool badly need Szoboszlai in midfield
When asked about his in-game switch after the final whistle, Slot said Liverpool needed more steel in a midfield that was being dominated by Ibrahim Sangare and Elliot Anderson.
While that does not bode at all well for Jones, it does at least signal that Slot has learnt his lesson over taking Szoboszlai out of the midfield.
Dominik Szoboszlai after Nottingham Forest v Liverpool - Premier League
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
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As Jamie Carragher said before the game, Szoboszlai may be Liverpool’s best right-back at the moment, but he is also their most influential midfielder. Playing him in the middle is far more important.
The Reds can – and do – win and lose games based on the midfield battle. It is rare that the selection at right-back will have a defining impact on the result of the game.
Consequently, no matter who is or is not available, Slot can no longer consider Szoboszlai as an option at right-back. If he were in any doubt about that, Sunday’s game should have neatly confirmed that to him.
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Liverpool’s right-back struggles are hopefully over
Although Gomez had been expected to come in for Sunday, it was at least encouraging to see him arrive off the bench for the final few minutes. The 28-year-old surely has a start in him in the coming games.
Meanwhile, Jeremie Frimpong is reportedly set to be back this week, putting him in contention to play against West Ham.
With two natural options returning for consideration, Slot can have no real excuse for putting Szoboszlai at right-back against the Hammers.
Jones was much more assured after the change of position on Sunday, and if neither Gomez or Frimpong are ready, then it has to be the Liverpool academy graduate who plays there.
Szoboszlai is simply too much of a miss in midfield to play anywhere but right at the centre of this team. Many supporters knew that before Sunday’s game. Finally, Slot appears to have come around to that too.
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