21 hours ago
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Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has revealed he has concerns about Dominik Szoboszlai’s physical capabilities and feels he is contributing to the Reds’ problems this season.
It’s an intriguing and slightly surprising take from Souness, the one-time Liverpool midfield bruiser. Most would regard Szoboszlai as the standout performer in Arne Slot’s side this campaign - a fact underlined by his selection in all 16 Premier League and Champions League line-ups.
The Hungarian’s selflessness, work rate and quality in possession have been among the few bright points this season, particularly in a midfield that has looked so lightweight and porous. However, Souness feels Szoboszlai is contributing to those fragilities, and is making it easy for opposition sides to counterattack on Liverpool.
“People are saying that Dominik Szoboszlai has had a great start to the season - with the ball, yes. But without the ball I’m not sure with the transitions,” Souness told the Liverpool ECHO in a recent interview.
“Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch are good at that - in those three midfield players you have experience in winning the Premier League and then you try and introduce Florian Wirtz into that, and I think he’s playing catch up.”
Returning to Liverpool’s no.8 later in the interview, Souness added: “Dominik Szoboszlai is a fabulous striker of the ball - good ball technique.
“But my only concern is when the ball changes hands and you’re no longer in possession; does he sense any danger? Does he sense it quick enough?
“The way the game is played, possession changes hands and within two passes someone is having a pop at your goal. I like to watch him play football, he’s an elegant player, but I think collectively the midfield could do better when they don’t have the ball.”
Slot has tried to move on from last season’s midfield trio of Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, with the summer acquisition of Wirtz. But prior to his injury, the former Bayer Leverkusen man has started in the no.10 role in just one of the last eight Premier League matches.
Souness has suggested that has been a major problem this season. “You spend over £100m on Wirtz and want him to come in and for it to be seamless, but that has not happened,” said the Scotsman.
“When you’ve lost a number of games now, you’ll be reverting to the tried-and-tested midfield three and we’ll see that going forward.
"They are all fabulous on the ball, but I just worry slightly about when there is a transition and they’re not in possession of the ball, they look too easy to play against. They’re all top players but I’d like to play against those three and I think other teams will see that.”
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