Dominik Szoboszlai is in need of a well-earned rest after featuring heavily for Liverpool in the first half of this season. The Austrian midfielder got off at Anfield but his performances have tailed off recently, raising concerns that he may need a short stint on the sidelines to recharge his batteries.
Only Mohamed Salah has played more minutes than Szoboszlai for the Reds this season. The 23-year-old has featured in 18 of Liverpool’s 19 matches in the 2023/2024 campaign, totalling 1,314 minutes on the field.
These numbers are particularly high for a new signing embarking on his maiden season in the Premier League. There is a noticeable shift in intensity between English and German football, where Szoboszlai was previously plying his trade with Red Bull Leipzig, something the midfielder has already alluded to in the past.
“The intensity is crazy,” he said earlier this month. “You have to run a lot and not only a lot but fast. You have to defend too because you know that every time the opposition has a chance in this league, the quality is so high that they can score.”
Luckily for Liverpool, they have plenty of midfielders at their disposal who can come in to give Szoboszlai a rest. Ryan Gravenberch has the creativity to carry out Szoboszlai’s role while Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliot and Wataru Endo are all able to offer something different in the centre of the park.
Fans have been calling out for Endo to get more game time after impressing during brief cameos since signing for the Reds in the summer. This could be the perfect opportunity for the Japanese international to pick up more minutes in the side.
Szboslai is expected to be benched for Liverpool’s trip to LASK Linz on Thursday in the Europa League having not started any of their previous four European ties. It could be advisable for Szoboslai to be given a similar break from the starting XI in the Premier League ahead of what should be a pair of fairly straightforward fixtures against Fulham and Sheffield United.
After all, the Reds will need him firing on all cylinders for upcoming clashes with Manchester United, Arsenal and Newcastle.
