Latest news with #Szoboszlai
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool have a THIRD Hungarian and it's not Milos Kerkez
Liverpool have a THIRD Hungarian and it's not Milos Kerkez Four years ago, Liverpool brought in Patrik and Erik Farkas to the academy. The older of the two brothers, Patrik, spent just around two years at Liverpool and has become a Hungarian youth international and currently plays for Blackburn Rovers, where he is highly regarded. Advertisement Meanwhile, Erik, who rejected Manchester City and Manchester United to join the Reds continues to play for the club's academy and represents the U16 side. The youngster is now 15-years-old and while he is eligible to play for Hungary, he has recently made his debut for England's U16 national team. Erik even scored on just his third appearance for the young Three Lions but despite his brilliance, Hungary hope that he will represent the nation at senior level. The Hungarian-born youngster is regarded as one of the most promising young talents in the academy at Liverpool. Coaches have likened him to Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric for his exquisite technical ability and for his vision on the pitch. Advertisement The youngster has already attracted the attention of senior figures at the club, who have closely observed him in training sessions and have been blown away by his performances. Szoboszlai is also known as an admirer of the young Hungarian talent. Predominantly an attacking midfielder, Erik can also play as a holding midfielder and as a box-to-box no.8. He has been playing for the club's U15 and U16 teams last season and is seen as an ideal fit for Arne Slot's style of football in the long-term. In the short-term, it is only a matter of time until he makes the next step up to the U18 side.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dominik Szoboszlai MOCKS claims he is incompatible with Florian Wirtz
© IMAGO - Florian Wirtz Liverpool Bayer Leverkusen An insight into a Wirtz-Szoboszlai midfield Last night for Hungary, despite captaining his team to a 2-0 loss against Sweden, Szoboszlai delivered a masterclass for the onlooking Liverpool fans checking in on the 24-year-old. Advertisement He was initially positioned as a No. 10 alongside Roman Sallai, who might be Wirtz in Liverpool's engine room next season, but throughout the game he was a deep-lying playmaker in the No. 8 role. Inside his 79 minute appearance we saw a bit of everything. One shot on target, four key passes, an accurate cross, five accurate long-balls, one big chance created, six ground duels won, one aerial duel won, four clearances, one tackle and he was fouled five times by the opposition. The man was a trouble-maker from the off, constantly getting involved wherever he could and making sure he contributed to the team, whether it was on or off the ball. A captain's performance. Advertisement So what did this tell us? Well, if the reports are to be believed, then Wirtz will feature predominantly in the No. 10 role at Liverpool, which then potentially relegates Szoboszlai to the No. 8 role alongside Ryan Gravenberch, although he'll be competing with Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones for minutes. In the final games of the season, we saw Slot try and change things up, and the new role for the Hungarian is definitely something that he could excel in next season if he is required to change. But Wirtz has previously been positioned as a false-nine centre-forward and we've even seen Slot utilise a system where no striker is used. At the Etihad against Manchester City in February, Jones and Szoboszlai played as joint No. 10s, constantly pressing high and overloading the midfield.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool International Break Roundup: Dominik Szoboszlai, Andy Robertson and More
Szoboszlai and Robertson Feature in Mixed Night for Liverpool Trio International duty offered a varied experience for Liverpool's contingent on Friday, as Dominik Szoboszlai and Andy Robertson captained their respective nations, while Lewis Koumas made a second-half appearance in a World Cup qualifier. Szoboszlai Leads Hungary in Budapest Defeat There's no questioning the responsibility placed on Dominik Szoboszlai's shoulders for Hungary. The Liverpool midfielder was handed the captain's armband once again, symbolising both his influence and growing maturity. However, this latest test didn't go to plan. Hungary fell 2-0 to Sweden in a friendly at the Puskas Arena, and while the result may not have significance on paper, the performance will have raised eyebrows. Advertisement Szoboszlai played 79 minutes before being substituted. His involvement was industrious but lacked end product, a reflection perhaps of a side still seeking attacking fluency. For Liverpool, the concern won't be form, rather fitness, and Szoboszlai came through the fixture unscathed. With Arne Slot's Premier League title defence ahead, any risk to one of his midfield lynchpins would be keenly felt. Robertson Endures Deflating Night for Scotland Andy Robertson continues to be one of Scotland's most trusted figures, but this was a night to forget at Hampden Park. The Liverpool left-back completed the full 90 minutes in a 3-1 defeat to Iceland, a result that will draw criticism regardless of the context of it being a friendly. Photo: IMAGO For Robertson, the positives are minimal. Despite leading by example and maintaining a solid defensive shape early on, Scotland's backline was eventually breached too easily. As Liverpool prepare for the new campaign, Robertson's match fitness and leadership remain undisputed, but Scotland's defensive frailties may force him to shoulder more pressure than ideal during breaks. Koumas Gets Taste of Qualifying Action In contrast to the established stature of Szoboszlai and Robertson, Lewis Koumas is still finding his international feet. The Liverpool forward came off the bench in the 64th minute for Wales in a comfortable 3-0 win over Liechtenstein in Cardiff. Advertisement Craig Bellamy's side made light work of their opposition in the Group J World Cup qualifier, and Koumas was able to enjoy the occasion with minimal stress. While his minutes were limited, the experience itself will be valuable for the young attacker. Slot and his coaching team will be watching closely, especially given the potential for squad rotation over a packed season. Liverpool Trio Underline Depth and Influence While results varied, the trio's involvement highlights Liverpool's reach across the international scene. Szoboszlai's command in midfield, Robertson's consistency at full-back, and Koumas's emergence all offer depth and promise for Arne Slot's squad. More importantly, each player returned with no injury concerns, which for Liverpool is perhaps the most crucial takeaway from this international window.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool have FINALLY found their €100m striker
The most obvious role for Florian Wirtz in this Liverpool team is on the left side of the attack. The 22-year-old played there primarily for Bayer Leverkusen, albeit in a different formation. Under Xabi Alonso, the 2023/24 Bundesliga champions played a 3-4-2-1 shape with Wirtz on the left of the two behind the striker. Advertisement He was given the freedom to drift into wide areas but also operate fairly centrally, safe in the knowledge that Alejandro Grimaldo would keep the width as a marauding wing-back. Liverpool don't have an identical position in their team. But if you had to position the German maestro somewhere in the team that allowed him a bit of freedom, it'd be on the left side of the attack. The central players do a lot of the running. Dominik Szoboszlai put in a shift as an attacking midfielder, doing a lot of the defensive work for Mohamed Salah. What went under the radar a little was how much of a shift the centre-forward also put in. Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz all did the hard yards with Szoboszlai when deployed as the striker. And this, by default, alleviated some of the burden on the left-sided attacker. With Milos Kerkez likely to be added to the squad, the left-sided attacker is in a comfortable position. The Hungary international can do a lot of the running on the outside while the striker covers central areas. Advertisement It doesn't mean Wirtz won't have to do defensive work, it is part of his appeal, but it frees him up to play his natural game. © Tacticalista This made the most sense with the links to a new centre-forward. Why else would you spend north of £60million on a striker if you just wanted them to sit on the bench while Wirtz and Szoboszlai spearheaded the attack? Szoboszlai, as far as I'm concerned, is a key part of Slot's XI. Yes, people want more goals and assists from him but we don't win the title without his graft in that role. I'm not entirely sure he's cut out for a deeper role either. He may have scored against Brighton but he struggled off the ball. He's also got a bit of a trampoline first touch, which is a problem in that part of the pitch. If you look at Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch, they're all assured with the ball. They bring calm to proceedings. They suit the deeper, double pivot role much more than Szoboszlai does. If we drop the No8 back, we're basically highlighting his weaknesses and hiding his strengths. There's something else to consider too. Dropping him means you're making changes to the spine of a title winning team. Unnecessary changes at that. Whereas if you're able to keep Alisson, Virgil Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Szoboszlai in their roles, you have a good base to retain the title. Advertisement Moving Szoboszlai in a deeper role means you're starting the new season with two new central players, Wirtz and a forward, spearheading the press. It is a gamble. It has to be Szoboszlai and one other leading the line for the Reds. The one other could well be Wirtz. He could, after all, be the Diogo Jota replacement. There's a world in which he's the replacement for Diaz the false-9 rather than Diaz the left-winger. Things need to happen for this to come to fruition though. Firstly, the centre-forward Liverpool bring in needs to be a back-up rather than a bonafide star. You can't spend £60million or more on a Plan B, can you? The Reds also need to either keep both Diaz and Cody Gakpo, or replace whichever of them is sold. Advertisement With that in mind, the links to Rafael Leao now make a little more sense. Liverpool won the league essentially playing with a false-9. Wirtz has the traits needed to be a world class false-9. He's the heir to Roberto Firmino, if we want him to be. And against Man City last season, away at the Etihad, the Reds went with dual false-9s. © Sky Sports You can see the shape above. Liverpool had Salah and Diaz holding the width. Then Szoboszlai and Jones played as a two-man attack, backed up by Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch. On paper, it was a 2-4-4 shape. Liverpool dominated central areas with their No8 and No17 dropping back into midfield when required. There was a fluidity to the team that just worked. Advertisement And we've seen it a few times this season. Against Crystal Palace on the final day of the season, it was a 2-4-4 system with the ball, as shown in the average touch map courtesy of WhoScored. © WhoScored Why couldn't Wirtz slot into the Diaz role here? He wouldn't need to be prolific. Think Roberto Firmino under Jurgen Klopp. If he chips in with 20 goal involvements in the Premier League, he's done his job for the team in that role. The potential is there for him to do just that. He finished with 22 goal involvements in the Bundesliga last term and his underlying numbers were just as impressive. The Germany international had an Expected Goals total of 9.4 (from an average of 2.98 shots per 90) and an Expected Assists total of 9.44. Advertisement There's no reason that Wirtz couldn't replicate those numbers if given the environment and the platform to do so.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arne Slot has already hinted how Florian Wirtz could fit into Liverpool side
When Liverpool were first confirmed to have made contact with Florian Wirtz, declaring their interest in a potential transfer should he be open to move to the Premier League, it was greeted by an element of surprise. After all, given the Reds will need reinforcements in a number of positions this summer, a new number 10 had not been high on many people's wish lists. Following confirmation that Trent Alexander-Arnold would not be signing a new contract with his boyhood club, Liverpool swiftly moved for Jeremie Frimpong as they sought a new right-back. Meanwhile, they are also expected to be in the market for both a new left-back and centre-forward. READ MORE: Giorgi Mamardashvili makes bold claim about Liverpool future in blunt response to exit talk READ MORE: Bayern Munich legend slams Florian Wirtz as Liverpool transfer considered - 'for his own good' A new centre-back can also not be ruled out, along with further attacking reinforcements dependent on departures. But given Dominik Szoboszlai's importance to Arne Slot's side, having been moved forward into a number 10 position by the Dutchman just a year after his own £60m move to Anfield, it seemed unlikely to be an area of the team Liverpool would wish to reinforce. Beyond the Hungarian, they still have Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott who have all been utilised in the role. But ever the opportunists in the transfer market, Liverpool bosses have seemingly sensed an opening when it comes to Wirtz. With Bayer Leverkusen said to be demanding a £126m fee, the Reds are on standby to swoop in ahead of Bayern Munich if such an opening arises this summer. If Liverpool were to be successful in their pursuit of the German, his arrival would not necessarily come at Szoboszlai's expense - despite spending the majority of the current season as an attacking midfielder. The Hungarian actually impressed in a deeper role against Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday night, scoring in the Reds' 3-2 defeat to the Seagulls, with Slot confirming before the game that Szoboszlai actually considered number eight his best position. "Dominik is playing as an eight, with Ryan as a six and Harvey a bit more forward,' he explained. 'Dominik sees his best position as an eight as well, so it will be interesting to see how he does in this position." Evidently, Szoboszlai could emerge as an option in that deeper position again in the future. But given Mac Allister's presence, it would not be as simple as switching his role to make room for Wirtz. Slot would face something of a balancing act. The highly-rated German is versatile too at least. While the majority of his football has come at number 10, he can also play on either flank or as a number eight. But he can also play upfront. While Liverpool have been tipped to recruit a big-money striker this summer, given the flailing fortunes of their current centre-forward options, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Wirtz could be targeted for such a role. The ECHO has already pointed out how the German could emerge as a 'false nine' akin to club legend Roberto Firmino, while Slot has at times fielded two number 10s in a box midfield at the expense of a centre-forward. You would not bet against such a system being turned to more frequently next season, depending on how the transfer window shapes up. Wirtz does have limited experience upfront. But from a small sample size, his returns in front of goal are rather impressive. According to Transfermarkt, he has made 15 appearances as either a centre-forward or second striker. And from such games, he boasts an impressive seven goals and seven assists. From those games, he has been selected as a lone central attacker in a front three seven times - returning three goals and an assist. And from his eight outings alongside a strike-partner - including in Leverkusen's 4-0 defeat away at Liverpool last November - he boasts four goals and six assists. It is worth noting that none of Wirtz's appearances upfront have come in front of a number 10, with Leverkusen predominantly lining up in a 3-4-3, 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 formation. Consequently, even if turned to upfront by Liverpool - if signed - he would have a partner of sorts courtesy of the Reds' number 10 of choice. When Liverpool signed Federico Chiesa last summer, the Italian was recruited to ensure the Reds boasted at least two quality options in every set position. But Slot has realised a greater need for versatility as the campaign wore on. Such is Mohamed Salah's durability and quality, Chiesa has barely featured. Yet Liverpool will need to utilise their right-wing alternative more next season with the Egyptian set to take part in the Africa Cup of Nations. Should the Pharaohs reach the final, he could miss as many as 10 Reds matches. In part, that is what makes the looming signing of Frimpong that little bit more appealing with the Netherlands international seen as an alternative in a more advanced right-wing role alongside his natural right-back duties. Wirtz would also be capable of covering in the position. Meanwhile, Luis Diaz has been utilised as a central option across the current campaign ahead of his favoured left-wing position at times, given the ongoing struggles of both Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota. Nunez is now expected to move on this summer, while Jota's own Liverpool future - along with Chiesa's - is also uncertain. While Slot initially wanted to stick with square pegs in square holes when taking over at Anfield, his Reds squad is already shaping up to be that little bit more flexible next season. And the versatile Wirtz - who boasts 34 goals and 35 assists from 94 appearances over the past two seasons - would only enhance such a trait within the ranks as Liverpool continue to pursue his signature. Should they break the transfer record to sign the German, it remains to be seen if they would still target a big-money striker too. But even if not, his potential arrival would ensure that the Reds are not left short in the final third.
