Report: Liverpool have huge Szoboszlai decision to make

Dominik Szoboszlai Dilemma Gives Andoni Iraola a Defining Liverpool Call

Liverpool have reached an intriguing stage of the season, and one of the biggest talking points centres on Dominik Szoboszlai. A player once viewed as central to the club’s leadership group and tactical future is now facing fresh scrutiny over his place in Andoni Iraola’s side. According to the Mail, the debate has intensified after a run of matches in which Liverpool appeared to carry greater balance without the Hungary international in the starting line-up.

That discussion is not without substance. Szoboszlai’s early-season standing looked beyond doubt. He had impressed through pre-season, took on a more prominent leadership role, and marked Iraola’s first competitive fixture with a decisive late goal at Newcastle. At that point, he looked every inch a foundational figure for the new head coach.

Since then, the picture has changed. Injury interrupted his rhythm, Liverpool continued to pick up wins, and his return has coincided with growing questions over structure, spacing and midfield chemistry. It is a debate that cuts to the heart of how Iraola wants this team to function.

Photo: IMAGO

Midfield Balance at Centre of Liverpool Debate

The argument against Szoboszlai, as set out in the reportby The Mail, is largely tactical. Liverpool have looked more secure when Florian Wirtz has operated ahead of midfielders willing to hold shape and do the less glamorous work behind him. In that structure, Alexis Mac Allister has found freedom to influence games more naturally, while Trey Nyoni has offered calmness in deeper areas and helped the side control transitions.

There is a logic to that view. If Szoboszlai and Wirtz drift into similar zones, Liverpool can become easier to counter. That matters greatly for an Iraola side expected to press aggressively and recover the ball in advanced areas. If the spacing behind the attack is not right, the whole framework can quickly look fragile.

The mention of the Arsenal game is important. The suggestion is that Liverpool lost control when Nyoni went off and Szoboszlai came on, a switch that altered the midfield dynamic rather than simply changing personnel. It points to a possible issue of fit rather than form.

Why Dominik Szoboszlai Remains Too Good to Ignore

Yet it would be rash to reduce the conversation to a simple choice of balance over brilliance. Szoboszlai remains one of Liverpool’s most gifted players, and the report makes clear there is still significant faith internally in what he can become over the coming years.

His qualities are obvious. He offers goals from midfield, carries a real threat from distance, contributes from set plays, and brings the sort of intensity modern elite sides demand. His durability has generally been strong, his standards in training are said to be high, and his versatility gives coaches options across multiple midfield roles.

There is also the wider question of squad-building. Clubs do not hand major contracts to players they see as expendable. Liverpool moved to secure Szoboszlai on fresh terms for a reason. That speaks to belief in his level, his age profile, and his long-term importance.

The challenge for Iraola is not whether Szoboszlai can play, it is how to unlock his best level without undermining the collective. Top teams often face these dilemmas with elite talent. The answer tends to be adaptation, not abandonment.

Photo: IMAGO

Andoni Iraola Must Find the Right Role

The report outlines several possible solutions. One is to keep him out of the side and preserve midfield balance. Another is to persevere with him in midfield and trust that quality will eventually win out. A third is more radical, leaving Wirtz out and using Szoboszlai as the primary No 10. Then there is the suggestion of deploying him at right back.

That final option may feel unconventional, but it is not without merit. Liverpool have searched for creativity from deeper zones since Trent Alexander-Arnold left, and Szoboszlai’s passing range and athleticism could, in theory, help there. It would also allow Iraola to keep additional control in midfield while still getting one of his standout technicians onto the pitch.

Still, there are risks. Right back changes the nature of his influence, and the report notes that Szoboszlai himself does not favour the role. There is also the trade-off of losing other defensive strengths in that area. Any solution would need to enhance the team rather than simply accommodate a name.

On balance, this feels like one of those moments that will shape perceptions of Iraola’s early Liverpool tenure. Great coaches find a structure that elevates major talents while preserving the system. Dropping Szoboszlai may solve one problem in the short term, but it may also limit Liverpool’s ceiling if they never work through the issue.

A separate subplot this week sees Liverpool prepare to face Fenerbahce and former Reds forward Dirk Kuyt, now in charge of the Turkish club. He said: “As soon as the draw was done, I was really excited because everyone knows how much Fenerbahce and Liverpool mean to me.

“It will be a very special occasion for me but at the stage we’re in, I’m not here for myself. I’m here for the club and that’s what is important – to show the fans who deserve much more.
“If we show up tomorrow with good energy, with passion and there to play, it can be a very special night.
“Liverpool are an amazing team but so are Fenerbahce. If the fans show up, I think Europe will see how big this fan base is.”

Liverpool are set to be without Ryan Gravenberch because of a heel issue, while Iraola said after the Arsenal defeat: “It is difficult when you lose but honestly I am happy with a lot of things from the other day. I liked a lot of things but we still need to improve, especially attacking the box.”

Our View

This whole discussion feels slightly premature. Dominik Szoboszlai has too much quality, too much presence and too much personality to be written off because Liverpool have looked tidy in a handful of games without him. The bigger worry is whether the team is being set up in a way that gets the best from its best players.

If Wirtz and Szoboszlai are stepping into the same spaces, that is a coaching problem to solve on the training ground. Liverpool should not be drifting towards a conclusion where one of the most dynamic midfielders at the club becomes a luxury item. He should be central to the plan.

There is also a danger in overreacting to balance. Control matters, but so does threat. Szoboszlai gives Liverpool drive, shooting power, aggression and personality. Those things can change matches quickly, especially when games become stretched or chaotic. Few midfielders in the squad can do all of that.

The right-back idea is interesting, but it should be a situational option rather than the long-term answer. Liverpool need Szoboszlai affecting the game where he can hurt opponents most. That means closer to the box, not hiding one of the squad’s biggest talents to patch over another issue.

Iraola has inherited a strong group. One of his biggest tasks now is proving he can mould the system around elite players rather than asking elite players to shrink themselves for the system. If he gets that balance right, Liverpool will be a far stronger side for it.

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p style=”text-align:justify”>Source: Mail