Szoboszlai: The Only Position I Don't Like Playing Is Wing; I Love Playing With Mac Allister

Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai spoke with Reds legend and former captain Steven Gerrard at the club's training ground, discussing his best position, Liverpool, working with Iraola, and how the team can improve further.

Gerrard: I have come to Liverpool's training ground today to interview Dominik Szoboszlai, one of the most exciting midfielders in the Premier League.

Gerrard: Dominik, thank you very much for accepting this interview. First of all, congratulations on signing your new contract. It is a five-year deal, meaning you will stay here for a long time. How does that feel?

Szoboszlai: Thank you. I just wanted to make my goals clear and understand what staying here means to me. Yes, hopefully we can achieve what we achieved before, as well as honors I have personally never reached.

Before the season starts, do you set yourself targets for goals and assists?

Yes, but I do not really like talking about that publicly.

You will not reveal even one number?

No, I will not.

Last season you obviously achieved double figures in both goals and assists. That was an incredible achievement.

I always want to do better than the previous season. So that is also an answer — for me, last season's performance was far from enough. I want to become even better than that.

Which position do you think suits you best? Last season you played right-back for a period, right wing (number 7 role) to replace Salah, as well as attacking midfield (number 10) and central midfield (number 8). Have you spoken with the new coach about having a more fixed role?

No, not really. But I think he once clearly said I would not play right-back, and that meant a lot to me (laughs). But if he needs me there, I will of course follow the instructions.

The problem is that you have performed so well in all these different positions.

But the only one I truly do not like is the number 7 position.

Which one do you like most? If you were choosing the lineup and placing Dominik Szoboszlai where he could cause the most damage to opponents, where would he play?

Number 8, or number 10.

As a box-to-box number 8, you can face the opponent's goal, make forward runs, combine with teammates and take shots.

Exactly. Number 8, number 8. Like a B2B number 8.

Look, that is also my favorite position. I have played number 7, number 2 and number 10. But I like being involved in attacking build-up most, especially when we have possession, making forward runs so I can face the goal.

Receiving from defenders, playing long passes, making runs into the box to create danger in the final third, and taking long-range shots from distance. That is the way I really like to play.

Do you think you and I could have played in the same team?

I think so, because then I would play as the number 10.

You would play number 10?

Yes. Or you would play number 2 (laughs).

What do you think you need from the team to become better? For example, I needed players like Xabi Alonso, Mascherano or Hamann because they gave me the security to push forward aggressively. That allowed me to get into the box more often and create more shooting and assist opportunities. Clearly you want to improve in these areas too. What do you need? Who in this team can provide that support?

I think we have many outstanding players. I really like playing with Mac Allister. Obviously, when we won the league title in our second season, the midfield was Mac Allister, Ryan (Gravenberch) and me. Ryan is not usually a pure number 6 player, at least he was not when he first joined us; he gradually adapted to that role. Mac can play number 6 and number 8, I can play number 8 and number 10. Then Flo (Wirtz) joined us. He is a number 10 who can play as an inverted winger and also... like against Arsenal, he was the number 9 and I was the number 10; or I was the number 9 and he was the number 10, effectively two number 10s. I really enjoy working with players who can read the game and understand this.

Understanding positional changes on the pitch and being able to adapt to each other.

That is one aspect, but I prefer passing combinations and possession football (tiki-taka), keeping the ball and then suddenly accelerating. That is the style I prefer.

I see the coach has elevated you into the team's core group. I felt this day would come sooner or later, and there were signs even last season. In terms of leadership and responsibility, do you now see yourself as one of the team's core players? Do you feel pushed into a higher role because many experienced players have left, such as Andy Robertson and Salah?

I think so. Honestly, this is the longest I have stayed at any club, because I had never been at any club this long before. This is my fourth season. I try to give everything every day, in every match and every training session. I think maybe sometimes I am not the biggest talker in the dressing room... We have other types of players in that regard, like Van Dijk, Joe (Gomez), Ali, you know, they have more experience than me.

So you prefer to show leadership through your actions in training and on the pitch.

Exactly. But I do speak up, and sometimes we communicate with each other. So I think both are needed, but I prefer to prove myself on the pitch through my performances and actions.

Tell us about the new coach. You obviously went through a full pre-season. What do you think of the new coach and what is he like for you?

I like him, very much. Obviously, I knew his football was very direct and aggressive, and I like that high intensity. I think that is the most important thing.

Do you think this will be the biggest difference from last season? The intensity and energy, and being more direct and vertical in passing and advancing forward?

I think that is exactly what needs to change. It is also what we lacked last season. If we can regain this intensity and fighting spirit, showing a stronger desire to win than our opponents, our ability is not a problem. When the two come together, nobody can stop us.

Was there anything about the coach or his staff that surprised you?

Obviously, I spoke with Milos (Kerkez). You know, he had worked under this coach at Bournemouth before, so I actually expected it. Because he said: 'We have to fight, we have to run, give everything, and compete one-on-one when needed.' That is what I like. I want to do that too. We should not fear anyone.

I think that suits your style very well.

Exactly. As Liverpool, we of course need to watch what other teams are doing, but what if we make them pay more attention to what we are doing? So let's perfect the tactics we are good at and then see what happens. Let them figure out how to deal with us: 'Liverpool are coming.'

That is very exciting.