In what has to date been a very poor season for Liverpool Football Club, there have been a handful of bright spots. Individual players who have managed to stand out simply by performing to a standard most would expect from a title defending side that spent £450M to bolster its squad over the summer.
In limited minutes, Andy Robertson and Federico Chiesa have impressed, grafting and putting in the hard yards even when the team around them has looked torpid. Despite that, well, their minutes have been
limited. There’s also Hugo Ekitike, the one summer signing to hit the ground running—though it’s worth noting his form has faded of late.
Then, there’s Dominik Szoboszlai. Probably the only player considered a near lock to be in the starting eleven when available who has consistently looked to deserve that standing, if one were to today choose Liverpool’s player of the season there would be no doubt he would be it.
“There are always difficult moments on and off the pitch,” Szoboszlai mused of the side’s struggles and his own good play in what so far has very much been a season to forget. “It always changes. Sometimes the team needs you, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes you’re in great form, sometimes you’re not.
“It’s always up to you how you react. I feel like so far, I’ve been able to deal with difficult times quite well and I hope that continues.”
Of particular note, Szoboszlai’s performances have come at multiple positions, from his usual role as a box-to-box eight in midfield to a right-sided attacker, false nine forward, and right back. With injury and fitness issues for both Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong, it’s been the latter position he’s most often been called to fill in at.
“In my opinion, a central midfielder can play any position on the pitch a lot easier,” he added. “The midfield is where a lot of the action happens, so you always have to be ready in that position. If you play wider, you will feel like you have a lot more time and a lot more space.”
