During Liverpool’s run to Premier League glory, Mohamed Salah was clearly the standout leader of their formidable attack. But as the season progressed, I found myself increasingly drawn to another player’s style and tenacity: Dominik Szoboszlai.
While Szoboszlai delivered some stunning goals during the 2023–24 campaign, he truly emerged as a complete box-to-box midfielder under Arne Slot, defined by his relentless engine and influence.
His standout performance in Liverpool’s 2–0 win at the Etihad—covering a remarkable 11.5 kilometers while scoring and assisting—was a defining example of his impact.
That’s why, although I was just as thrilled as any Liverpool fan when the club signed Florian Wirtz—whose potential could elevate an already great team to another level—I couldn’t help but wonder how Szoboszlai would fit into the rotation next season, given how similar their games are as attacking midfielders.
Fighting for his place
It seems that Szoboszlai has been thinking about his place in the team for next season as well.
In response to the high-profile signing, the Hungarian remarked, “I don’t give up my place that easily, and I think [Wirtz] knows that getting into a Premier League-winning team takes work… we have to find the opportunity for the two of us to play together.”
And Szoboszlai has every reason to believe he should continue earning minutes, even with Wirtz now in the mix.
Outside of the Salah–Díaz–Gakpo trio, no Liverpool player registered more goal contributions (12) than their No. 8 last season—a particularly significant stat given that other attacking options, like Darwin Núñez and Diogo Jota, struggled to leave a consistent mark on the Reds’ title run.
So, while Wirtz appears ready and capable of becoming Liverpool’s new focal point as the central attacking midfielder, where does that leave Szoboszlai—especially with Premier League Player of the Season finalist Ryan Gravenberch and maestro Alexis Mac Allister seemingly locked into consistent starting spots too?
A False 9?
Given Szoboszlai’s tendency to drift high up the pitch and his eye for goal, could Arne Slot look to mold him into a Bobby Firmino–style false nine?
With a false nine sitting somewhere between an advanced midfielder and a traditional center forward, this pivot could be an ideal fit for Szoboszlai’s skill set.
And with a move for the top pure striker on the market—Newcastle's Alexander Isak—looking increasingly difficult to pull off, it might be worth exploring.
Wirtz’s arrival may push Szoboszlai out of his preferred position, but the quality of service he’s likely to receive from the German could ease his transition into a role focused more on finishing chances and creating opportunities—rather than tracking back and contributing on the defensive end.
Outside of Salah (88), no Liverpool player created more chances than Szoboszlai (55) last season.
Converting him into a false nine could offer a viable path for Wirtz to flourish as one of the world’s top young attacking midfielders, while also giving Szoboszlai the opportunity to further develop in a role that highlights his knack for efficient final-third production.
An overhaul of Slot’s tactics?
Arne Slot made effective use of a 4-2-3-1 formation in his first season at Liverpool, but could a shift to a 4-4-2 make sense going forward?
Slot’s system may have caught the Premier League off guard last season, especially given his relative obscurity before guiding Liverpool to Title No. 20.
Now, it’s worth asking whether a tactical tweak could help keep the rest of the league on their toes.
A shift in formation could allow Liverpool to assemble a midfield quartet of Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, and Gravenberch—one that any team in world football would need to prepare for meticulously.
With the creativity of Wirtz and Szoboszlai, the all-around brilliance of Mac Allister and Gravenberch’s defensive presence, this lineup has the potential to cause serious problems for opposing defenses.
Additionally, a switch to a 4-4-2 would create more space in the wide areas—an attacking setup that not only allows Szoboszlai and Wirtz to play together, but also opens up dynamic running lanes for new Liverpool signings Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.
Frimpong is known as an attack-minded fullback—much like his predecessor, Trent Alexander-Arnold—but he often pushes even higher up the pitch.
Following a collectively underwhelming season from Salah’s supporting cast in ‘24–25, could Slot opt for a 4-4-2 that gives Frimpong and fellow new signing Milos Kerkez—Szoboszlai’s compatriot and another fullback with a knack for surging forward—greater responsibility out wide, while allowing Salah to focus on finishing chances in a more central role up front?
It might seem bold to suggest that a manager who just won a league title in his debut season should consider changing the tactics he’s relied on for most of his career; but when you’re working with an abundance of talent, it’s worth exploring how to best maximize the resources at your disposal.