Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Arne Slot, Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool, Football
John McDougall
Topics: Arne Slot, Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool, Football
Arne Slot is busy in his first pre-season as Liverpool boss and it has emerged the new man in the Anfield dugout is preparing to change the roles of one of Jurgen Klopp's last signings to get the best out of him.
Slot has joined on a three-year deal at the Anfield club, moving to Merseyside from Dutch side Feyenoord.
The Dutchman has replaced legendary boss Klopp who stood down from his position in the Liverpool dugout this summer after nearly a decade in his position.
During his tenure, Klopp won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup as the Anfield side emerged as the most consistent competitors and threats to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
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So far, Liverpool have played two pre-season friendlies ahead of Slot's maiden campaign in charge at Anfield.
The Reds suffered a 1-0 loss to Championship side Preston North End in a behind closed doors friendly thanks to Robbie Brady's effort.
Liverpool have now, like many other Premier League sides, headed out to the USA for a series of pre-season fixtures.
They picked up the first win of the Slot era with a 1-0 victory against Real Betis in Pittsburgh, with Dominik Szoboszlai's first half goal proving the difference.
The Reds have two more friendlies Stateside against Arsenal and Manchester United, before their final clash ahead of the new Premier League season when they take on Sevilla at Anfield on August 11.
Szoboszlai proved to be one of the final signings Klopp made at Liverpool, with the Hungarian midfielder joining from RB Leipzig last summer after the Anfield side met the 23-year-old's €70m release clause.
Szoboszlai went on to have a fairly positive first season at Liverpool, scoring seven goals in 45 games across all competitions.
And according to The Times, it appears Slot is ready to change Szoboszlai's role in the Liverpool engine room and get the best out of the Hungarian.
The report says: "While all the pre-tour chat had hinted that he might drop further back to solve the No6 issue, maybe Slot has found a different way to get the best out of Liverpool’s fourth-most-expensive player of all time."
Liverpool are yet to make a signing so far this summer, as Slot assesses the squad he has at his disposal, but it will be interesting to see how Szoboszlai lines up for the Kop outfit moving forwards.