Liverpool analysis after Dominik Szoboszlai stars in the 3-1 Premier League win against Bournemouth at Anfield
Liverpool’s midfield has inevitably been a talking point at Anfield all summer long.
From finally initiating a long-awaited engine-room revamp, to being left short by some unexpected big-name exits, Jurgen Klopp’s search for a new holding midfielder has dominated headlines in recent weeks after the Reds lost both Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabia.
Such a search finally found a resolution in the form of VfB Stuttgart’s Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo earlier this week. Having been rejected by both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, calling the £16m transfer unexpected would be something of an understatement.
Having only trained once with his new team-mates, the 30-year-old was only afforded a place on the bench against the Cherries after receiving international clearance. As a result, Alexis Mac Allister was again tasked with lining up in an unfavoured deeper role.
The Argentine inadvertently opened the door for Endo to make his debut after being harshly sent off for a high challenge on Ryan Christie in the 58th minute. Following in Darwin Nunez’s footsteps by being dismissed on his Anfield debut, there are at least no concerns for the promising Mac Allister taking as long to find his feet on Merseyside after serving his suspension.
But while Kopites were curious to see how Endo would do on his debut when turned to, straight away having to demonstrate Klopp’s suggestion that the Japan captain would fill James Milner’s role in the squad as an experienced player helping to see out games, it was Liverpool’s other midfield summer signing that stole the show against AFC Bournemouth.
Endo might have been the man on all Reds lips before kick-off, but come the final whistle Kopites were going home waxing lyrical about Dominik Szoboszlai.
It was the £60m signing that won the penalty in the 36th minute for Mohamed Salah to fire Liverpool in front, with his footwork too quick for Joe Rothwell in the box. Turning the game on its head as two goals in quick-succession wiped out an early deficit.
It wasn’t his own first half highlight of course. Falling over on the halfway line, he turned Kopite groans into cheers by winning possession while still on the ground and feeding Trent Alexander-Arnold before bursting forward to join in with the attack. He’d link up well with the likes of Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota too, playing smart one-twos and making the most of spaces around the Bournemouth box, even if he could be accused of sometimes trying to play a pass too many.
But the Hungarian showed his true value after the break, going from strength to strength as Liverpool attacked the Kop with his work-rate in midfield effectively eradicating the Reds’ one-man disadvantage following Mac Allister’s dismissal as he pressed hard and led counter-attack after counter-attack.
In a two-man midfield alongside Endo, for the final 32 minutes Szoboszlai covered every blade of grass. A joy to watch on the ball as he ran past opponents with ease, he completed three of his five dribbles with both totals the highest on the pitch.
One such run saw him break free into the box, leaving two Bournemouth defenders in his wake, only for the Cherries to block the subsequent shot. Every time he ran at defenders, starting Liverpool counter-attacks, he had excited home fans off their seats.
He would add a second assist of sorts to his record, with Neto keeping out his long-range shot moments after Mac Allister’s red card, only for Jota to slot home the rebound. That shot was one of three in the game, with only the Portuguese and Mohamed Salah registering more.
Central to every Reds attack, his total of 88 touches was the most on the pitch. Boasting a 93% pass accuracy, no-one could better his return of 63 accurate passes from 68 attempted either.
Against Chelsea, Klopp’s men recorded just 35% possession with the German adamant that was not good enough. Against Bournemouth, Szoboszlai ensured there was no repeat.
It’s still early days in his Reds career of course, and Opta won’t credit him with assists for either Salah or Jota’s goals. Meanwhile, Kopites have been here before, impressed by a big-money midfield signing from RB Leipzig on his home debut, only to be left disappointed in the long run.
But it was the most mature and promising of starts for the Hungary captain as he helps lead Klopp’s ‘Liverpool FC reloaded’. An attacking midfield threat, so good on the ball and at running at defenders, the Reds haven’t had such a player since Philippe Coutinho. Yet the 22-year-old is much more than that, thriving as a number eight with his all-round play.
If this is the Anfield debut in a makeshift midfield and with 10 men, wait until Klopp’s new engine-room is fully unleashed. Welcome to Liverpool, Dominik Szoboszlai!