02 Apr 2024 14:25:41
I was at the game on Sunday and it looked like Szobozlai was pushed much further up the pitch, often occupying the centre half next to Nunez when we were beginning attacks.
When he first joined he was deployed much deeper it seemed, sometimes filling in at 6 during games and being involved in the buildup play more.
It looked like a tactical decision to play him high on Sunday and I think the tactic isolated him for a lot of the game until around 70 mins when he started to show some good touches in the half spaces and create some chances.
I wondered what ed01 and other posters thought about this and if you saw the game/ his positioning the same way?
02 Apr 2024 15:02:30
I only watched us on the tv @navy Keith so it’s always harder to see the full picture as opposed to the upper centenary etc but I thought he was finding some nice spaces but the ball was eluding him a lot which made him look as if he wasn’t involved I think when we slowed it down slightly and worked it around Brighton a bit more he came in to the game a lot more.
I thought he played well.
02 Apr 2024 15:15:58
He was definitely pushed up higher than earlier in the season. He was leading the press similar to how Lallana used to for us back in his prime. I think he grew into the role as the game went on and then started looking like a threat, having a shot fly narrowly wide and also playing the ball into Macca for him to subsequently create our winning goal.
Klopp actually referenced Szoboszlai's new tactical instruction after the game, calling him the "chaos creator". With Endo and Macca as such a solid base (similar to what Gini and Hendo used to provide for Lallana back in 2016-2018) it allowed Szoboszlai to effectively have a free role in possession and press really aggressively out of possession. Brighton are one of the best teams at beating a press as well so I imagine this will be extremely effective against team who can't play from the back quite so well.
02 Apr 2024 16:26:30
Mk spot on mate. Only thing I’d add is Mac was a joy to watch as well as a solid base of what we have been used to in the past from our midfield.
02 Apr 2024 16:29:31
Rumour going round he not settled and he wants out? Probably just bs.
02 Apr 2024 16:48:54
Szobo was also helping back on the right side of defence esp. in the second half with Bradley and Quansah cos that is where the Brighton overload was all game long. Really happy for him.
Mac10? Said it multiple times. I would have paid 80m for him, simple as.
{Ed025's Note - tell the truth Oli, Szobo has been awful for a while now and is very lucky to get picked, i know you support all your players mate but telling bare faced lies is not the answer..
02 Apr 2024 17:36:03
My God! If that’s awful Ed then there are a lot of awful players in the Prem. He’s not playing as well as he can, but he set a very high bar at the start of the season.
{Ed025's Note - he started off great FF and i said at the time that you have got a cracker there, since then he has fallen off a cliff mate imo..
02 Apr 2024 17:52:28
I’m just surprised how many bad players we’ve had and are still top of the League ?♂️.
{Ed025's Note - they are not bad players Irish but it’s unfair to say they are playing well if they are not mate. You have a great team ethic and everyone is pulling in the same direction that’s what makes you effective. Im not a fan of blowing smoke up peoples arses when they don’t deserve it. It’s a truth thing with me but of course some don’t like that..
02 Apr 2024 17:58:48
He still doing a job in midfield I reckon Ed, he’s not pulling up trees but he’s not doing a lot wrong either.
The midfield looks very strong to me when he’s on the the pitch. I’m sure he’ll play his way back into top form soon enough, but in the mean time, personally, I don’t think he’s letting anyone down.
{Ed025's Note - maybe its me FF expecting too much because of the start he made, i just think you have got a plethora of riches in midfield when everyone is fit mate..
02 Apr 2024 18:02:28
Not using it as an excuse for form etc but I’m sure I seen him do an interview where he spoke about being lonely and having issues socially . Which surprised me as he seems a really confident lad and very popular with the group . I’d say he’s just out of form nothing more as he has got so much ability.
{Ed025's Note - you may be right Dhfc mate..
02 Apr 2024 19:23:58
Ed0025 I’ll be honest mate Szob lately is a far better player to appreciate live than he is as he comes across on tv.
I agree he’s not playing as well in possession as he was earlier in the season but his desire and effort levels out of possession is something else.
I know that’s the minimum you expect from professional footballers but the more teams I see come to Anfield week in week out the more I realise that’s not the case mate. .
{Ed025's Note - i will take your word for that JK..
02 Apr 2024 19:34:33
I have to agree with ed025 on this one. If Jones was fit, he’d probably have his shirt and Dom be on the bench Thursday.
02 Apr 2024 20:18:13
I agree Ed, we’re lucky to have a really good squad at the moment. Some players will be in and out of form at different points of the season.
As football fans though I think sometimes we expect a little too much of players. I appreciate they get paid far too much for what they do, but to be fair I think that’s more our fault that theirs. If we’re all willing to keep throwing money at the system they’d (or rather their agents) would be stupid to not get as much as they can.
They’re still humans though, and humans are fallible. They won’t always be at their best, when they’re not, the least we can expect is for them to keep putting in the effort. So far I think Szob has been doing that, so fair play to the lad. I’m pretty sure form will follow.
Just my opinion.
{Ed025's Note - i have said that he is a very good player FF, as you say form is temporary mate but at the moment i dont think he deserves a starting place mate, but thats just my take on things..
02 Apr 2024 21:14:19
Ed025, totally agree with you, there is a great player in there, his 1st 5/ 7 games I thought OMG we've got a future bal Dor winner, since then not so sure.
Seen a few too many fashion shoots, drinking a fans beer at a match, new tats.
Still young, plenty of time for him.
{Ed025's Note - thats exactly what im saying IDLLK, I was just commenting on his present form mate and for me that at the moment means he is very lucky to be i the team..
02 Apr 2024 22:12:28
The lad has not been in the league for a few months. he has had injury problems, stop start season. don't help the lad he has had to change position he has been played at another club. The lad will be a season on next season. Let's see how he does then. its a bit like braithwaite for Everton, had a good season but one swallow don't make a summer.
02 Apr 2024 22:26:03
Fair enough Ed, I get where you’re coming from then. I just didn’t get the awful tag to be honest.
03 Apr 2024 07:23:34
He started the season gangbusters but then Klopp asked him to tweak his game to help the team more - it resulted him being less "flashy" but doing more graft. Having said that i do think he has come back a bit rusty.
03 Apr 2024 09:25:50
Ed25, that is not the argument and based on his present form it is clear you do not understand the job he is being asked to do. Klopp literally explained what he was asked to do and per Klopp, he did it brilliantly. Whatever your expectations are of him are not those of Klopp so whatever you nor I think really doesn't matter. Sorry, BUT not sorry.
Klopp based on the evidence from his own mouth, is asking him to press more, do a lot more graft and cover a lot more ground. He is being asked to do the hard graft tracking back to help out in defence and cover gaps to allow Mac10 and others to flourish, same way Hendo was doing brilliantly in his pump. Again, you would not understand cos well, pretty sure you did not even know that Klopp had addressed Szobo's new functions after the Brighton game.
{Ed025's Note - I only base things on what I see Oli. I want to see midfielders track back. Want the ball. Be involved and make a difference mate. Lately I have not seen that from him and after his excellent start to the campaign I expected better. Maybe it’s just me?..