Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is pleased with the function Dominik Szoboszlai is taking part in in his midfield, however insists the Hungarian’s “numbers must go up.”
Szoboszlai is considered one of solely three gamers to play each minute of each recreation for Liverpool to this point this season, alongside Alisson and Virgil van Dijk.
That speaks to the No. 8’s significance to Slot’s aspect, having been put in in a key function as his most superior midfielder.
However there have been considerations over Szoboszlai’s efficiency in his most up-to-date outing, the 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, which raised the query over his enter forward of a fiftieth look for the membership in opposition to AC Milan.
In his pre-match press convention, Slot was requested how necessary Hungary captain’s function is to the crew – with the top coach admitting room for enchancment.
“I feel all the squad gamers I’ve, they’ve an necessary function,” he started.
“He’s performed all 4 of them now and each gamers feels extra necessary when he performs than when he’s not taking part in, however each squad member has his function and through a season all of them will play so much, as a result of we play a whole lot of video games.
“However he’s been necessary for us, particularly till now in our work once we don’t have the ball. He’s been excellent in his urgent recreation.
“I feel one thing that now we have to work on with him is that he’s additionally much more concerned in scoring objectives and creating possibilities for us.
“Final season he scored three [in the league] if I bear in mind appropriately and for an attacking midfielder at Liverpool his numbers must go up.
“However I’m actually pleased with the best way he’s finished till now and I’m 100% certain that if he performs in a crew with a lot high quality round him, with the standard he has he’ll ultimately rating extra objectives for us as effectively.”
Slot’s feedback could appear harsh given Szoboszlai is considered one of solely 4 Liverpool gamers to register a purpose or help to this point this season, whereas solely Mo Salah (three) has extra assists than his two.
Nevertheless, it’s doubtless that the Dutchman was referring to his output within the Premier League final time period, when 33 appearances introduced simply three objectives and two assists.
That’s a median of a purpose contribution each 422 minutes – shut to at least one each 5 video games – which is clearly not sufficient for Slot within the function Szoboszlai performs.
There isn’t any sense of frustration, nevertheless, extra so a perception that Szoboszlai has extra potential to fulfil.