Arne Slot has a clear favourite and he's going to surprise a lot of people. Over the course of Liverpool's history, every manager had one of those players he could rely on and was one of the first nam...
Arne Slot has a clear favourite and he's going to surprise a lot of people.
Over the course of Liverpool's history, every manager had one of those players he could rely on and was one of the first names on the team sheet - no matter what.
LFC x New Era
LFC Signed Merch
LFC x Titleist
For a lot of Jurgen Klopp's era, that player was probably Roberto Firmino. The Reds signed new attackers, brought in different players but somehow Firmino always had a role in the team.
He was essential to Liverpool's pressing system and that made him one of Klopp's favourite and most important players.
Under Brendan Rodgers, this player gradually evolved to become Jordan Henderson. Once ready to be discarded, Henderson worked really hard to make sure he fit Rodgers' principles and towards the end of the former manager's era, he was indispensable to the team.
It's early days into Slot's time at the club, but his favourite may already be clear. Pre-season has been a good indicator of this.
A lot of people have written off Dominik Szoboszlai this summer. The Hungarian was a key player for the Reds last season - his selfless hardwork often allowed others to flourish around him.
But he was always criticised for not getting enough goals and assists. With Florian Wirtz coming in, a lot of people think Szoboszlai will now be resigned to the bench with the German taking his place.
This will be very far from the truth, though. Szoboszlai will be a starter under Slot no matter what. Just like Firmino under Klopp, Szoboszlai is essential to Slot's system.
The Hungarian's running, energy combined with his exquisite technical skills means he simply has to be playing.
Pre-season has shown that Slot agrees with this sentiment. Whether it's against Preston North End, Stoke City or AC Milan, and whether it's as a no.10, right-back or as a no.8, Szoboszlai will always have a role in the team.
In the three games he has played so far, he's played in different roles every single time but he's started every single game. Somehow and some way, Slot has found a way to integrate him into the line-up.
And Szoboszlai has repaid him every single time. He got a assist against Preston, another assist against Stoke and then scored against AC Milan.
This is why you write him off at your own peril. Szoboszlai is here to stay in the starting line-up. It's clear Slot loves him and he won't drop him, not until the Hungarian continues to produce the goods on the pitch.
Category: General Sports
