A young and exciting player completing a transfer within a week of being linked with a move? Liverpool might really be back.
The Reds’ next star is Dominik Szoboszlai, paying RB Leipzig £60m for his services.
Liverpool have already secured the services of Argentina World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton this window, and their rebuild is beginning to take shape nicely.
So how will Szoboszlai fit in at Anfield? Here are the various ways Jurgen Klopp could use him.
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Klopp is unlikely to stray too far away from his trusted 4-3-3 formation (besides Trent Alexander-Arnold tucking into a more central position).
Szoboszlai is naturally a number ten but has played as a number eight plenty in his young career.
The problem Liverpool could encounter is potentially playing two players in such a mould – Szoboszlai and Mac Allister – in the same team with an ageing Fabinho may leave them stretched. The youthful Stefan Bajcetic or energetic Jordan Henderson may be needed to cover at times.
Potential lineups
Fabinho – Szoboszlai – Mac Allister
Bajcetic – Szoboszlai – Mac Allister
Henderson – Szoboszlai – Mac Allister
If Klopp wants to put a square peg in a square hole, he could just play Szoboszlai in his preferred position.
Again, this would present an issue with using Mac Allister – could you trust him to play a little deeper when his better work comes higher up the pitch?
Potential lineups
Fabinho – Mac Allister – Szoboszlai
Fabinho – Thiago – Szoboszlai
Fabinho – Henderson – Szoboszlai
As a modern number ten, Szoboszlai has spent a lot of time having to play out wide – he featured 32 times from the right and seven from the left for RB Leipzig last season.
Liverpool are stacked with wide options right now, but Szoboszlai’s versatility could help them during injury crises or when the near-indestructible Mohamed Salah needs a rest.
With Europa League football on the horizon, Klopp is bound to rotate his stars a little more often.
Potential lineups
Szoboszlai – Gakpo – Diaz
Salah – Gakpo – Szoboszlai
Salah – Nunez – Szoboszlai
LISTEN NOW
On this week’s edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders is joined by Toby Cudworth, Graeme Bailey and Sean Walsh to discuss Mason Mount’s impending move to Man Utd, Arsenal’s various deals, Liverpool’s pursuit of Dominik Szoboszlai and more!
If you can’t see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!
