Liverpool were hellbent on Jude Bellingham but Dominik Szoboszlai is already key in Jurgen Klopp’s midfield revolution
When Dominik Szoboszlai received the ball from Wataru Endo 25 yards from goal against Leicester on Wednesday night, there was only one thought in his mind.
It was vintage Szoboszlai, who found the top corner from distance as he rifled an effort past Jakub Stolarczyk to put Liverpool ahead against the Foxes. Move over Adriano; there's a new 99 Shot Power King in town.
When it became clear that Szoboszlai was on the market, and for as little as £60m, the main shock was that Liverpool were unrivalled in their pursuit of the Hungarian.
The Reds had been hellbent on landing Jude Bellingham and as interest in the teenager grew from the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid, Liverpool quietly adjusted their target to another Bundesliga midfielder, who they signed for a fraction of the price.
Bundesliga aficionados will have been aware of what Szoboszlai would bring to Anfield following his summer arrival from RB Leipzig.
Long range thunderbolts became the norm in Germany's top tier. Rather, the surprise has come in the swiftness with which Szoboszlai has adjusted to the rigours of Premier League football, and in playing in a different system to the one he is used to.
Last season, Szoboszlai would operate from the right or in a more advanced role for RB Leipzig, but under Jurgen Klopp, he's operating as more of a number eight in the 4-3-3 setup.
He still has the license to get forward, however the 22-year-old needs to work harder off the ball in Klopp's favoured system. It's a role he has taken seamlessly.
This was key for both player and club. Liverpool's midfield underwent a huge overhaul over the summer as Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner all departed for pastures new.
Ryan
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