{"id":1363274,"date":"2024-09-12T20:30:49","date_gmt":"2024-09-12T19:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1363274"},"modified":"2024-09-12T20:59:41","modified_gmt":"2024-09-12T19:59:41","slug":"liverpool-dominik-szoboszlai-number-ten-distance-covered","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/liverpool-dominik-szoboszlai-number-ten-distance-covered\/","title":{"rendered":"Dominik Szoboszlai flourishing in new ’10’ role as Liverpool aims to join exclusive defensive club"},"content":{"rendered":"

Life as Liverpool<\/a> manager couldn’t be going any smoother for Arne Slot, who had the unenviable task of following in J\u00fcrgen Klopp’s footsteps this summer.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But the Dutch tactician inherited a battle-hardened squad laced with youth and experience. Plus, there were no major departures from Anfield, with Klopp’s predominant eleven from last term making up Slot’s early teams, albeit with a twist.<\/p>\n

For one, Wataru Endo, ever-present following his signing from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer, is watching from the outside in with Ryan Gravenberch — also leaving the Bundesliga ahead of the 2023\/24 campaign — slotting into a revamped Liverpool midfield in terms of personnel and shape.<\/p>\n

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Despite coming from a nation where 4-3-3 is sacrosanct, Slot, unlike his German predecessor, prefers a 4-2-3-1 system. This formation offers the utilisation of a deep-lying forward or number 10 behind a centre-forward. So far, Diogo Jota is leading Liverpool’s attack with Dominik Szoboszlai taking up that space behind him.<\/p>\n

Szoboszlai, another who relocated from Klopp’s homeland a year ago, was nominally used in a midfield three as the RCM during his debut Premier League campaign. He played slightly further afield for RB Leipzig the season before leaving for England, mostly on the right flank, back when he collected 10 goals and 13 assists in 46 official matches.<\/p>\n

This adaptability to playing in multiple positions makes Szoboszlai an asset, and he’s performing his newfound duties for Liverpool astutely. No one in a Reds jersey has created more chances (eight) than he has, resulting in one assist, but what has caught the eye is Szoboszlai’s infectious work rate\u2014notably, he’s already covered the most distance (33.9 km) of any Liverpool player.<\/p>\n