Dominik Szoboszlai Could Be Liverpool’s Answer to Jeremie Frimpong Problem

Andoni Iraola has a significant decision to make when Liverpool face Ipswich Town, and Lewis Steele believes Dominik Szoboszlai may currently offer the most convincing answer at right-back.

Speaking to Dave Davis on Anfield Index’s Media Matters, Steele discussed Liverpool’s options following Jeremie Frimpong’s difficult start to the campaign.

Szoboszlai spent much of last season in midfield, where Steele believes he was Liverpool’s best player, yet circumstances have dragged the Hungarian back into a familiar debate.

For Liverpool, the question is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid.

Szoboszlai Case Grows at Right-Back

Steele acknowledged the argument against moving one of Liverpool’s leading players away from midfield.

“You sort of play your best players in the best positions,” Steele said. “That’s a counterargument. But I do think the positives of Szoboszlai at right-back outweigh the negatives.”

That distinction matters.

Steele does not believe right-back should necessarily become Szoboszlai’s permanent home. He told Davis that moving such an influential midfielder into defence was not a long-term answer.

“I also don’t think it is a long-term solution, but right now it might be a solution that just solidifies Liverpool for a few weeks.”

Liverpool could certainly use some solidity.

They have drawn their opening two Premier League games 2-2, against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, leaving Iraola searching for his first league victory when Liverpool visit Portman Road.

Frimpong Faces Difficult Liverpool Decision

Central to the discussion is Frimpong.

Liverpool have seen enough of the Dutchman at Bayer Leverkusen to know the quality that can exist within his game. Steele, however, feels that Liverpool are currently seeing too little of it.

“I look at Frimpong and I think there’s maybe a player in there deep down just based on what he did at Leverkusen, but right now he isn’t showing it,” Steele explained.

His proposed response is particularly interesting.

Rather than abandoning Frimpong, Steele suggested Liverpool could remove him from the firing line temporarily.

“I’m not saying they give up on him completely, but they just might need to just park it for a few weeks,” he said, before suggesting confidence could also be contributing to Frimpong’s difficulties.

Later in the conversation, when Davis asked which Liverpool player could endure a difficult season, Frimpong was the obvious candidate.

“I think it’d be too obvious for me to go with Frimpong,” Steele admitted, before eventually settling on the right-back as his answer.

Iraola Has Short-Term Liverpool Solution

Liverpool’s problem is complicated by their alternatives.

Conor Bradley remains sidelined, while Joe Gomez is working towards his return. Iraola confirmed before Ipswich that Szoboszlai is prepared to operate at right-back if required, praising the vice-captain’s versatility.

Steele believes Gomez could eventually become another option, although his fitness record makes depending upon him difficult. Ronald Araujo and Jeremy Jacquet were also mentioned during the discussion as players capable of covering the position.

That leaves Ipswich as an immediate selection decision rather than a definitive verdict on anybody’s future.

Szoboszlai may be Liverpool’s best midfielder, but he could also be the player best equipped to give Iraola greater security on the right.

Steele summed up Liverpool’s unusual predicament neatly.

“You’ve got Szoboszlai as your best player, but I don’t think anyone really knows how to use him, to be honest.”

Against Ipswich, Liverpool may discover that the answer, at least for now, is right-back.