Dominik Szoboszlai reboot can help Arne Slot avoid unwanted Liverpool problem – Liverpool Echo

Dominik Szoboszlai has had a disappointing 2024 so far – but an early Euros exit could have given the Liverpool midfielder the break he needed
Anyone wanting conclusive proof of the merits of selecting in-form players for international tournaments need only consider the impact of Cody Gakpo at the recent European Championships. Having been one of the few Liverpool players to have ended the season in impressive fashion, Gakpo took that form into the finals with Holland, for whom he scored three goals and provided one assist in their run to the semi-finals to end up joint leading marksman in the competition.
The striker, then, is likely to be brimming with confidence when he returns to the AXA Training Centre later this month to begin working under new boss and compatriot Arne Slot.
The same, though, cannot be said for Dominik Szoboszlai, whose fortunes over recent months have been in stark contrast to those of Gakpo.
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Indeed, it says much that while Liverpool won't expect to see the latter return to the fold for at least another fortnight, Szoboszlai was already back at the AXA Training Centre on Tuesday having been eliminated from the Euros when Hungary were dumped out at the group stage more than three weeks ago.
Szoboszlai endured an underwhelming tournament, the alarm bells having already been sounded by his national team after disappointing displays in the warm-up games against Ireland and Israel.
He played every minute of Hungary's matches at the Euros but rarely impressed, save a moment of quality in setting up a goal in the 3-1 loss to Switzerland. Szoboszlai had appeared jaded in that game but improved in the 2-0 defeat to Germany, but was given few opportunities to shine as a defence-minded Hungary eked out an ultimately worthless 1-0 win over Scotland in their final group match.
That, though, continued a trend which, following an impressive first half to the season following his £60million arrival from RB Leipzig, was sparked by a hamstring injury against Newcastle United on New Year's Day.
Szoboszlai scored and assisted in two games on his return a few weeks later but subsequently admitted rushing back too soon, aggravating the injury and then missing for more than a month, a spell which included the League Cup final win over Chelsea.
While at first lively when back fit again – scoring in both Europa League games against Sparta Prague – Szoboszlai soon lost his way, particularly during a poor second-half showing from the bench in the reverse at home to Atalanta. Indeed, he started only one of the final seven Premier League games with four of his substitute appearances only coming in the 81st minute or later.
If the Euros may not have gone to plan for the majority of the Liverpool contingent – handing Slot an unwanted potential issue with which to contend – Szoboszlai's early exit has at the very least given him both a break in which to refresh and reset, while also leaving sufficient time to impress his new boss during pre-season.
The competition for places in midfield is likely to again be fierce, although Slot's tactical variations and Szoboszlai's flexibility mean the Hungarian is well positioned to hit the ground running. He will just hope the new campaign starts like the last one – but doesn't finish in the same manner.

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