When the Premier League marketing campaign kicked off, most watching Arne Slot away from a Liverpool prism harboured main doubts that he would be capable to choose up the place Jurgen Klopp left off.
It was the undoable job, the insurmountable impediment, taking a long-held dynasty to a different degree. Each Arsenal and Manchester United slumped after their historic managers departed, however Liverpool have bucked the pattern after which some.
Most harboured doubts, however Slot and his squad beavered away and constructed atop the agency foundations Klopp left. Now they’re Premier League champions, and dominant winners at that.
Liverpool at the moment are forward, however they don’t seem to be going to give up, slightly construct on Klopp’s crafted squad and go once more subsequent season. Attacking additions really feel essentially the most needed, with Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa all reportedly vulnerable to being bought this summer time.
Nonetheless, the Reds will know that strengthening within the offensive third is one thing which may very well be achieved by way of completely different routes, and difficult Dominik Szoboszlai for the next output is one in all them.
Why Dominik Szoboszlai wants competitors
Szoboszlai is the primary Hungarian to win the Premier League, together with his operating energy and vitality so necessary to a Liverpool crew that depends on transitions and overwhelming opponents.
Nonetheless, regardless of his brace of assists because the title was clinched in opposition to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, he is solely posted 14 targets and 13 assists throughout 90 Liverpool appearances.
Liverpool want a extra prolific attacking midfielder. That may very well be Szoboszlai, however he must up the ante in entrance of purpose, maybe taking a leaf from Philippe Coutinho’s e-book.
Coutinho was the harbinger of a brand new period of success at Anfield, the shining mild throughout these few dreary post-Luis Suarez years earlier than signing for Barcelona in January 2018 in a £142m deal. It sparked new ranges of success, however Liverpool did lose an unimaginable attacking midfielder.
Prem: Szoboszlai (24/25) vs Coutinho (17/18) | ||
|---|---|---|
Stats (* per sport) | Szoboszlai | Coutinho |
Matches (begins) | 32 (26) | 14 (13) |
Targets | 5 | 7 |
Assists | 5 | 6 |
Touches* | 47.1 | 71.1 |
Pictures (on course)* | 1.9 (0.7) | 3.9 (1.2) |
Go completion | 86% | 79% |
Key passes* | 1.6 | 2.9 |
Dribbles* | 0.6 | 2.8 |
Tackles + interceptions* | 1.3 | 1.9 |
Duels (received)* | 2.8 (44%) | 5.6 (50%) |
Stats through Sofascore | ||
Coutinho was taking part in like a person possessed throughout that half-season, taking part in, admittedly, like a footballer hoping to switch to Barcelona. In any case, he staked his declare as one of many Premier League’s most iconic playmakers.
There is no doubt that Slot has taken Szoboszlai’s sport to the following degree, but it surely must rise greater nonetheless if he is to solidify his standing as a famous person at Liverpool.
Possibly he wants some recent competitors in attacking midfield, a Coutinho-esque participant who might add that X-factor to the ranks. FSG seem like eager on following that prepare of thought.
Liverpool chasing Premier League star
As per Soccer Insider, Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze is able to reject a transfer to Manchester United in favour of a transfer to both Liverpool or Arsenal this summer time.
The 26-year-old does not really feel {that a} transfer to Outdated Trafford, which Gary Neville not too long ago known as a “graveyard for gamers and coaches,” could be in the most effective curiosity of his profession trajectory.
Valued at £50m, Eze would mark a big outlay and FSG have some doubts relating to his consistency in entrance of purpose, however Slot’s teaching acumen would be sure you take the England worldwide’s sport to the following degree.
Why Eberechi Eze may very well be excellent for Slot
Whereas the right-footed Eze’s fleet-footedness lends itself to a spot on the left flank, he is performed loads of soccer in a extra central berth underneath Oliver Glasner and may very well be utilised throughout two areas at Liverpool.
Slot, shrewd tactical thoughts that he’s, would be sure you increase Eze’s sport to the following degree, having proved himself throughout a variety of years as one of many Premier League’s most interesting.
Fulham supervisor Marco Silva even waxed lyrical concerning the participant’s high quality earlier within the season, saying: “Everybody who loves soccer ought to take pleasure in seeing Eze on the pitch.”
He is definitely backed up that reward with high-level performances within the Eagles regime, scoring 9 targets and offering 11 assists throughout all competitions in 2024/25.
As per FBref, he ranks among the many high 18% of attacking midfielders and wingers throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous yr for assists, the highest 8% for ball recoveries and the highest 15% for profitable take-ons per 90.
This successfully underscores the creativity and athletic method that Eze brings to the desk. It is a mix which might even see the expertise grow to be Liverpool’s subsequent model of Coutinho.
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The Palace man is definitely able to producing show-stopping moments, rifling a shocking strike previous Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez final weekend to ship his facet to the FA Cup last, the place Manchester Metropolis now await.
Revered journalist Henry Winter hailed the midfielder for his “magnificent purpose and show,” proving to the world that he has that fizzling high quality which might see him slot proper into Liverpool’s system as the brand new model of Coutinho.
In fact, Eze has additionally been described as a “magician” by pundit Micah Richards previously, with that distinctive tackle the sport to remind Liverpool followers of the joys of getting such a silky attacking midfielder of their combine.
Like Coutinho again in his Liverpool heyday, Eze can be prepared to get caught in, averaging 1.2 tackles and profitable 5 profitable duels per Premier League fixture, as per Sofascore, one thing, when you refer again to the desk from earlier, Coutinho excelled at.
With ten huge possibilities created throughout 28 top-flight begins this time period too, Liverpool really might get their palms on one of the vital thrilling gamers under the highest rung of the divisional ladder.
His playmaking talent may very well be doubly necessary given Liverpool are set to lose Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer time, however whichever method you swing it, Eze is an thrilling expertise able to seat-raising stuff, similar to Coutinho.
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