Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has suggested that he could be deployed in defensive midfield.
The Reds are currently on the hunt for a new holding midfielder, as they prepare to lose Fabinho to Al Ittihad. Without a natural replacement in the squad, all manner of names have been suggested.
But, according to Szoboszlai, they could have an unexpected solution. In quotes from The Daily Mail, the 22-year-old says it’s ‘no problem’ for him to play in the No.6 role, although he’d really prefer not to.
I just want to be on the pitch!” he says. “But as a number eight, a number 10… if I have to slide back a little bit to take the ball as a No.6? No problem.
“I want to be more towards the goal but, yeah, I’m a box-to-box (midfielder) I would say!”
Something to keep in mind, Jurgen!
Szoboszlai happy to play anywhere
We’ve no doubt that for someone as talented as Szoboszlai, he absolutely could play as a No.6 with distinction.
However, playing in that deep-lying position for Liverpool is not the same as playing it for any other side. There’s huge emphasis on whoever is there to anchor it as others push forward around them. It really needs a specialist.
Fabinho did that marvellously for four out of five years at Anfield. There’s no one we’d have rather had. When you scour the world of football for players with similar characteristics, Szoboszlai does not come to mind.
Nevertheless, perhaps his admission points to what Jurgen Klopp is trying to do with his new midfield recruits.
Rather than bringing them in to play in a defined position, perhaps he’s seeking out versatility instead. Alexis Mac Allister is also a multi-faceted midfielder, one who has also played in a deeper role during his career so far.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold likely to continue in his hybrid role, maybe Klopp is fine with having a less specialised midfielder as the deepest.
Even in that scenario though, someone has to sit next to Trent while he’s pulling the strings. In our mind, that player is currently either Thiago Alcantara or Stefan Bajcetic. Szoboszlai could well do it, but we need his eye for a pass and a goal closer to the opposition penalty box. Plenty of food for thought, though.
