Dominik Szoboszlai is the latest Liverpool player to discuss their current issues, with the midfielder placing onus on Arne Slot and his staff to find solutions.
Szoboszlai’s Sky Sports interview: A quick look
- The “fix”: Dominik Szoboszlai has put the responsibility on Arne Slot and his staff to solve the Reds’ identity crisis.
- Player frustration: Following similar hints from Alexis Mac Allister, Szoboszlai admitted the squad wants to return to the football they played last term.
- The Arsenal litmus test: Despite a nine-game unbeaten run, draws with Leeds and Fulham have left fans disgruntled. Thursday’s trip to Arsenal will be a key test.
Szoboszlai has emerged as a leader in a struggling Liverpool side this season, as not only their standout player but doing so in a variety of different roles.
And while the Reds are currently on a nine-game unbeaten run, his comments to Sky Sports about how to ‘fix’ their situation carry weight.
“It’s not my job to say it!” he began coyly.
“We have so many people in the club to find solutions and they will find solutions, I’m pretty sure.
“Every player, I think there are a couple of things they are thinking, but everybody is going to keep it to themselves.
“And in the end we’re going to speak with each other, speak as a group and then we’re going to grow as a group.
“We are Liverpool. Right now we are the champions of England.”
Liverpool tactical issues: Why Szoboszlai and Mac Allister are frustrated
Szoboszlai’s interview follows a similar stance from Alexis Mac Allister when speaking to Sky Sports himself last week, with the Argentine hinting at his frustration after Liverpool “changed too many things.”
A run of nine losses in 12 games between September and November led to growing pressure on Slot and calls for the Dutchman to be sacked, and while his side are now unbeaten in nine with five wins, that has not entirely gone away.
Liverpool’s No. 8 clearly agrees that they are not where they want to be in terms of performance as well as results, with Szoboszlai insisting they were “trying to get back to where we belong.”
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“We have so many people in the club to find solutions and they will find solutions, I’m pretty sure.
“Every player, I think there are a couple of things they are thinking.”
“Of course [there has been progress]. We were really deep down, so from there on actually everything is progress!” he continued.
“But we are trying to get back where we belong.
“I don’t mean only in the position we are. We would like to play the same football we played last season and that’s what we have to think, how to manage it.
“Of course the other teams know now, saw us last season, felt us last season, so they also try to hurt us everywhere they can, which is actually normal.
“But still, if you want to compete for something, then you have to find a solution.”
Performance Data: Dominik Szoboszlai
Total
Szoboszlai ranks second in the squad for minutes played; with 10 goal involvements, he is Liverpool’s most productive midfielder. (Data sourced from Transfermarkt).
Liverpool head to Arsenal on Thursday night which provides a useful litmus test for the progress Slot has made – particularly after draws with Sunderland, Leeds (twice) and Fulham in this unbeaten run.
Szoboszlai was asked whether he believes the Reds are facing the champions-elect, he replied: “I don’t think we are playing against the champions – they play against the champions.”