Liverpool broke the trend of signing Dominik Szoboszlai – and his debut season hinted at why – Liverpool FC

After a ridiculously promising start, Dominik Szoboszlai seemed to fall out of favor with his manager and fans at the end of his first season at Liverpool.

It’s been a two-part campaign for Szoboszlai – and unfortunately for the 23-year-old, the second part has brought a downfall.

This makes the task of reviewing his first season at Anfield particularly difficult, as although his stock appears to be low, it remained an impressive debut that hinted at much more to come.

A perfect start

While fans speculated about possible additions such as Khephren Thuram, Manu Kone, Gabri Veiga and Romeo Lavia, those at Anfield were exploring a surprise alternative.

Long expected to join Newcastle, Szoboszlai went from a specific target to a Liverpool player within four days as June turned into July.

The £60m release clause in his RB Leipzig contract was triggered hours before it expired, with the club eschewing their usual measured approach to transfers for the deal that crossed the line.

Then sporting director Jorg Schmadtke later revealed he thought the deal was “too expensive”, admitting it was a “miscalculation”.

“The boy was an important player for Liverpool from day one,” Schmadtke said Time. “He performed better than I expected him to.”

Those comments came in March, with Szoboszlai having just scored in back-to-back wins over Sparta Prague in the Europa League, taking his season tally to seven goals and four assists.

In September there was a stunning first goal against Aston Villa, scored accurately and with zero rebounds, followed by a goal off the crossbar against Leicester.

December brought a superb touch and finish at Sheffield United and a long-range strike against West Ham, while the following month he was in the third in a 4-1 defeat by Chelsea.

There were assists for Darwin Nunez (twice), Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk, while his tenacity won a penalty for Salah against Bournemouth.

After effectively replacing Jordan Henderson in the side and inheriting the number 8 jersey worn by Steven Gerrard, Szoboszlai looked every inch the future Liverpool icon.

Setting the bar high

The Hungarian’s perception changed towards the end of the season, however, and Szoboszlai was visibly tired after one of the most demanding campaigns of his career.

Only once in the previous five seasons has he had more minutes than in his 45-game Liverpool arc (2,700), and that was in his last term for Leipzig when he played 46 times for a total of 3,709 minutes.

His role under Jurgen Klopp was also a more difficult task, operating as a box-to-box No. 8 whose energy and athleticism set the tone for the ball.

That increase, along with starting every game from 2022 as Hungary captain, has undoubtedly taken its toll on the player who turned just 23 in October.

That showed in the injury he suffered in January and then, after a brief return, worsened in February.

Lacking options, Klopp brought back Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jot and Thiago before again feeling the effects, with the medical staff later enforcing a more cautious approach with the No.8.

Despite the promising signs with those goals against Sparta Prague, there has been a noticeable decline from Szoboszlai, and the coach clearly acknowledged it.

After starting 21 of his first 29 games before the injury, the midfielder finished the campaign starting just two of the final eight; His last goal was scored against Sparta on March 14.

“Maybe I set the bar too high because I think there were certain matches where I couldn’t get the best out of myself,” Soboszlai told MLSZ TV in May.

“Or there are times when you don’t play well and in some people’s eyes you’re the worst player on the field, but that’s not a problem because we go through those things together.”

Szoboszlai nailed it with that assessment: that was a long, difficult campaign to bring him into the Premier League, but it should be seen as a productive one.

Number 10 in shirt no. 8?

He may not have directly called out the fans who had heralded him as Gerrard’s successor a few months earlier, but Szoboszlai’s comments summed up the fickle nature of modern football.

There were highs and lows in his first season at Anfield, but overall it was one that showed potential worth more than £60m.

That could be nurtured further in a likely altered role in Arne Slott’s expected 4-2-3-1 system.

While Slott’s set-up could certainly change with the new team he will be working with at Liverpool, the basics of his style of play include an attacking number 10.

Soboszlai is one of many players who could fit into the squad Klopp has left behind – with Alexis Mac Allister, Harvey Elliott, Fabio Carvalho and even Ryan Gravenberch among the candidates – but arguably no-one has better credentials.

Liverpool pushed the boat out to take him to Merseyside and on the evidence of his debut campaign they were right to do so.

And as he prepares for his second season under new management, Szoboszlai can take those lessons learned in 2023/24 and prove again why that release clause will come cheap.

Best moment: That stunning strike against Leicester.

Worst moment: Lose your place due to running in.

Role next season: Kudos to the key player.