Szoboszlai Shines at Right Back as Liverpool Find Unexpected Solution
When injury forced Arne Slot into a rethink, few would have predicted Dominik Szoboszlai to emerge as Liverpool’s answer at right back. Yet across two defining fixtures against Newcastle United and Arsenal, the Hungarian not only adapted, he excelled. The latest tactical breakdown from PanenkaLFC explores how this unlikely switch reshaped the Reds’ approach and offered a glimpse of Szoboszlai’s extraordinary versatility.
Tactical gamble pays off
As PanenkaLFC put it, “in Liverpool’s case, you get Dominik Szoboszlai tearing down the flank and dominating the game in a completely new way.” With new signing Jeremie Frimpong sidelined and Conor Bradley not fully fit, Slot turned to Szoboszlai. The podcast described the move as “not just necessity, but also trust,” and the midfielder repaid it in full.
At St James’ Park, Newcastle immediately targeted the makeshift full back. “Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento both pushed forward aggressively to overload Szoboszlai’s areas time and time again,” the hosts noted. Yet he held firm. The breakdown highlighted that he was “dribbled past just once, made four ball recoveries and another four clearances.” For a player asked to defend out of position, it was a statement performance.
Defensive resilience against elite attackers
The following week brought an even sterner test. Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli was expected to stretch Liverpool’s right flank but as PanenkaLFC observed, “Szoboszlai easily pocketed Martinelli.” Rather than diving in, he “often jockeyed Martinelli, showing him the outside and using his strength to nudge him away from goal.”
When Arsenal tried to overload through Riccardo Calafiori, Szoboszlai “was constantly bombing up and down that right hand side to stop Arsenal from exploiting that area.” The podcast emphasised that he “led the entire match in clearances, racking up more than any other player on the pitch.” For someone in a temporary role, he looked every inch the seasoned full back.
Attacking spark from deep
Defensive solidity was only half the story. Against Newcastle, Szoboszlai’s intelligence in possession offered new attacking avenues. “He started dragging Livramento out of position, pulling him higher up the pitch and away from that right hand side,” PanenkaLFC explained, creating space for Liverpool’s forwards to exploit.
A week later, against Arsenal, his attacking instincts nearly produced the decisive moment from open play. As the analysis recalled, “Virgil van Dijk launched one of his trademark long passes straight into Szoboszlai’s stride. Szoboszlai took it in stride and delivered a first time cross into the box,” with the finish ruled offside by the tightest of margins.
And then came the match winner. “Szoboszlai unleashed a rocket of a shot that went over the wall and slammed in off the inside of the post,” PanenkaLFC exclaimed, calling it “probably the most unstoppable free kick we saw in recent times.” That goal sealed a crucial win over Arsenal and confirmed Szoboszlai’s influence at both ends of the pitch.
Short term fix or long term innovation?
The big question is whether this experiment continues. As the podcast admitted, “it’s hard to imagine Szoboszlai permanently becoming a defender. He’s too good in midfield and attack.” Yet in demonstrating defensive reliability and attacking invention, he has shown himself as Slot’s tactical wildcard.
PanenkaLFC concluded that “whether it’s scoring a scorcher of a free kick or making a last ditch clearance, he’s doing it all for the team.” That mentality, they argued, “is infectious and it’s one reason Liverpool sit top of the table right now.”
For Liverpool, Szoboszlai’s stint at right back was more than a stopgap. It was proof of adaptability, resilience and brilliance under pressure, qualities that could define another title challenge under Slot.
