Interview'We trust each other' - Dominik Szoboszlai discusses Liverpool's midfield chemistry
The Reds have won six of the seven games played under their new head coach across three competitions: the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup.
A midfield trio of Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister started six of those matches – the sole exception being Wednesday night’s 5-1 victory over West Ham United in round three of the League Cup.
And Szoboszlai is thoroughly enjoying the early stages of a promising relationship between the three.
The No.8 told Liverpoolfc.com: “I think all of us are similar players and we know from each other that we can trust each other: so, we can swap places, we look at each other [and] we understand each other. Both of them are amazing players so I am more than happy to play with them.”
We caught up with Szoboszlai at the AXA Training Centre ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. Read the rest of our preview interview below.
It feels like the team and you personally are in a good place at the moment – how would you assess the start to the season?
We have started very well except one game against Nottingham Forest, but it’s football, it happens. So, we had quite an intense pre-season but now we feel that it was important.
What has the transition from Jürgen Klopp to Slot been like? From the outside it seems to have gone very smoothly…
Yeah, we are happy that from outside it looks like this, but I think as when we new guys came [in the summer of 2023], the players helped us a lot to settle in and that’s why it went so quick – to show it that even with the changes we had, we can have a good team.
How do you see your role developing in the team?
Of course I want to score more goals [and] give more assists. Hopefully when I give a good ball then we have good players in front who are going to score them! My role is a little bit different than last year but still I’m going to do everything for the team. Even if my stats are not that high but the team wins, that’s the most important [thing].
On Gravenberch, he is playing in a deeper role than in the past this season. How impressed with him have you been and how much does he help you on the pitch?
Yeah, a lot. Last year he didn’t have so much chance to show himself but I think if he gets the trust from the coach, this is actually Ryan. So, he is really important for us and also in the midfield he knows that sometimes he is the player who has to stay more back, but also sometimes if he goes then he knows we [will] stay. So, we understand each other and that’s helped us a lot.
Do you maybe feel less pressure in terms of competing for the Premier League title because it is the new head coach’s first season here?
Well, I don’t know. Last year I spoke too much about titles and everything and of course we won one [trophy] and we had the chance to be up there until almost the very end. But we go game by game: there could be 65 more games in this season, so it’s going to be a really intense season for everybody, each of us, and we want to be there in all competitions – Champions League, Carabao Cup, Premier League [and FA Cup]. But that’s going to take time.
Finally, what kind of a challenge are you expecting at Molineux this weekend?
It’s always hard to play there. Everybody knows last year we were 1-0 down and then we could turn the game to our side, but even if they had a bad start [to this season] then somehow they want to get us, take the three points and they are going to work hard for it. But we are ready also to work for it harder.
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