After a ridiculously promising begin, Dominik Szoboszlai appeared to fall out of favour along with his supervisor and the followers on the finish of his first season at Liverpool.
For Szoboszlai, it was very a lot a marketing campaign of two elements – and sadly for the 23-year-old, the second half introduced the downturn.
It makes the duty of reviewing his first season at Anfield a very troublesome one, as if his shares seem like low, it remained an impactful debut that hinted at much more to come back.
Dominik Szoboszlai, 2023/24
Began: 30 (All competitions)On instead: 15Unused sub: 3Goals: 7Assists: 4Overall Season Score: 6.42
The proper begin
Whereas followers speculated over doable additions reminiscent of Khephren Thuram, Manu Kone, Gabri Veiga and Romeo Lavia, these at Anfield have been exploring a shock different.
Having lengthy been anticipated to hitch Newcastle, Szoboszlai went from concrete goal to Liverpool participant inside 4 days as June turned to July.
A £60 million launch clause in his contract with RB Leipzig was triggered hours earlier than it expired, with the membership eschewing their typical, measured method to transfers for a deal rushed over the road.
Then sporting director Jorg Schmadtke later revealed he had felt the deal was “too costly,” accepting that had been a “misjudgment.”
“The boy was an vital Liverpool participant from day one,” Schmadtke advised Die Zeit. “He carried out higher than I might have anticipated him to.”
These feedback got here in March, with Szoboszlai having simply scored in back-to-back victories over Sparta Prague within the Europa League to convey his season’s tally to seven objectives and 4 assists.
In September, there was a surprising first objective in opposition to Aston Villa, struck with precision and with zero again carry, after which a scorcher in off the crossbar in opposition to Leicester.
December introduced an excellent contact and end at Sheffield United and a knuckleball from vary in opposition to West Ham, whereas the next month noticed him head within the third in a 4-1 rout of Chelsea.
There have been assists for Darwin Nunez (twice), Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk, whereas his persistence received a penalty for Salah in opposition to Bournemouth.
Having successfully changed Jordan Henderson within the aspect and inherited the No. 8 shirt worn by Steven Gerrard, Szoboszlai appeared each inch the long run Liverpool icon.
Setting the bar excessive
Perceptions of the Hungarian shifted in the direction of the top of the season, although, with Szoboszlai visibly tiring after probably the most demanding campaigns of his profession.
Solely as soon as within the earlier 5 seasons had he clocked extra minutes than he did in his 45-game Liverpool bow (2,700), that being in his remaining time period with Leipzig when he performed 46 occasions for a complete of three,709 minutes.
His function underneath Jurgen Klopp was extra tasking, too, working as a box-to-box No. 8 whose power and athleticism set the tone off the ball.
That buildup, together with beginning each sport since 2022 as captain of Hungary, had undoubtedly taken its toll on a participant who solely turned 23 in October.
It confirmed within the damage he picked up in January after which, after a short return, aggravated in February.
A scarcity of choices noticed Klopp rush the likes of Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Thiago again earlier than feeling the results once more, and medical employees later enforced a extra cautious method with the No. 8.
Regardless of promising indicators with these objectives in opposition to Sparta Prague, there was a noticeable drop-off from Szoboszlai, and the supervisor clearly acknowledged this.
After beginning 21 of his first 29 video games earlier than damage, the midfielder ended the marketing campaign beginning simply two of the ultimate eight; his final objective involvements got here in opposition to Sparta on March 14.
“Maybe I set the bar too excessive as a result of I feel there have been sure matches the place I couldn’t convey out the most effective in myself,” Szoboszlai advised MLSZ TV in Could.
“Or there are occasions if you don’t play properly and in some folks’s eyes you’re the worst participant on the pitch, however it’s not an issue as a result of we get via this stuff collectively.”
Szoboszlai nailed it with that evaluation: it was an extended, exhausting marketing campaign on his introduction to the Premier League, however it needs to be considered as a productive one.
A No. 10 within the No. 8 shirt?
He might not have been instantly calling out supporters who had heralded him as Gerrard’s inheritor months earlier, however Szoboszlai’s feedback summed up the fickle nature of recent soccer.
There have been peaks and troughs in his first season at Anfield, however on the entire it was one which confirmed greater than £60 million price of potential.
That may very well be nurtured additional in a probable tweaked function in Arne Slot‘s anticipated 4-2-3-1 system.
Whereas Slot’s setup may actually change with a brand new squad to work with at Liverpool, the basics of his model of play embrace an attacking No. 10.
Szoboszlai is one in every of many gamers who may match that invoice within the squad Klopp has left behind – with Alexis Mac Allister, Harvey Elliott, Fabio Carvalho and even Ryan Gravenberch among the many contenders – however arguably none have higher credentials.
Liverpool pushed the boat out to convey him to Merseyside, and on the proof of his debut marketing campaign they have been proper to take action.
And as he prepares for his sophomore season underneath new administration, Szoboszlai can take these classes discovered in 2023/24 and once more show why that launch clause will turn into a cut price.
Finest second: That gorgeous strike vs. Leicester.
Worst second: Shedding his place for the run-in.
Position subsequent season: Each bit the important thing participant.
