Picking a dream 5-a-side team is meant to be a straightforward exercise, but when you share a dressing room with world-class talent, someone is always bound to feel hard done by.
Dominik Szoboszlai found that out the hard way when tasked with putting together his ultimate small-sided line-up.
While the Hungarian skipper had no trouble finding room for himself alongside a lethal blend of Anfield teammates and global superstars, his final selection contained one jaw-dropping omission that will leave plenty of Liverpool supporters doing a double-take.
When given free rein to choose the very best he’s ever played with or against, Szoboszlai made a ruthless call.
Here is who made the cut in Szoboszlai's dream five, and the eyebrow-raising reason behind his biggest snub.
Dominic Szoboszlai has named his dream 5-a-side team from players he’s played with, and it’s safe to say there was one surprise omission.
There was no place for former team-mate Mohamed Salah, as Liverpool’s midfielder opted for four other teammates as well as himself in his dream team.
The goalkeeper was no surprise, however, with Szoboszlai opting for Alisson Becker, who he’s shared a dressing room with for more than three seasons now.
The Hungarian expressed how he “needs a goalkeeper who is very, very confident on the ball” before picking the Brazilian.
Liverpool’s number one will have a tough task on his hands, with Szoboszlai picking him as the last and only line of defence in his team – an interesting tactical approach.
Joining Liverpool’s number eight in midfield is his current central-midfield partner Alexis Mac Allister. The Argentine struck up a sensational partnership with Dom during Liverpool’s title-winning season, and that spark has been reignited so far this campaign.
Mac Allister’s reintroduction to the team in a deeper role has revitalised Iraola’s midfield, with Szoboszlai expressing in a recent interview his love for playing alongside Liverpool’s number ten:
“I love to play with Macca. When you look at someone and he knows what you want to do, and I know what he wants to do, I think it helps the team as well.”
Ahead of Liverpool’s midfield pairing is another familiar face, with former Reds winger Luis Diaz getting the nod.
While he didn’t have the goalscoring form of Mohamed Salah at Liverpool, his quick feet and determination are just a couple of the attributes that have since seen him take his game to another level in Munich.
His debut season for Bayern saw the Colombian notch a staggering 49 goal contributions in all competitions, making a mockery of the £65m the German club paid for his services.
Finally, to complete the lineup is the first non-Liverpool player, and a worthy inclusion, with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland leading the line.
The Norwegian forward played alongside Liverpool’s midfielder for one and a half seasons at Salzburg back in 2019. The duo both featured together at Anfield in December of that year, as Liverpool beat the Austrian side 4-3 in a dramatic Champions League group-stage game.
The duo have since become Premier League rivals, but there’s clearly no love lost despite Haaland being involved in Szoboszlai’s sending off against the Citizens last season.
So that’s Alisson, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Diaz and Haaland. Not sure on the balance, but if there’s one thing you’re going to get watching that team, it’s going to be goals.
Add us as a preferred source on Google