Liverpool will have to turn up in a big way on Sunday if they are to maintain their brilliant run of form under Arne Slot.
The Reds have handled the season unbelievably well so far, winning 11 of their first 12 matches.
While that represents the best start to a campaign in Liverpool history, the toughest tests are still yet to come for Slot.
One of those arrives this weekend, as Liverpool head to Premier League runners-up Arsenal.
The Reds are going to need their big players at their very best to record a first league win at the Emirates Stadium since 2022.
While most of the Liverpool squad have shown they can hit those levels consistently, there is mounting pressure on midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai to add his name to that list.
Jamie Carragher wants more from Dominik Szoboszlai
Szoboszlai’s form has rather split opinion amongst the Liverpool fanbase over the past six months or so.
Although the Hungarian had a stunning start to life at Anfield since arriving for £60m in 2023, he tailed off badly in the second-half of the campaign.
There have been better signs this season, with Szoboszlai praised by former manager Marco Rose recently.
But plenty are still left with the feeling that the 23-year-old could be doing so much more. One of those is evidently Jamie Carragher, who dedicated part of his column in The Telegraph to querying Szoboszlai’s output.
“When comparing the full-strength Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City starting XIs, the title rivals have more quality in a particular area,” Carragher begins. “Liverpool are short of a Martin Odegaard, Phil Foden or Kevin De Bruyne-style attacking midfielder – that X Factor in the middle of the park who elevates a side to the next level.
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“Dominik Szoboszlai has performed well off the ball and he brings energy to the team – doing the ‘dirty work’ as he puts it – but for all the possession he gets in good areas, he needs to be more productive in terms of his assists and goals. We are yet to see if that is part of his game.
“For the £60 million he cost, he too often leaves me wanting more,” adds the Liverpool legend. “It does not need to all be ‘dirty’ work when you have the time and space on the edge of the penalty area to find a team-mate or unleash a shot.
“That No 10 position is one of the most coveted and is more often than not reserved for the superstar, game-changing player.”
Carragher spot on with Szoboszlai assessment
Of course, not everything in football can be measured in goals and assists. There are so many intangibles.
Nowadays, things that previously went unnoticed are brought to light to highlight what players are doing other than contributing to goals.
Things such as duels won or ground covered can be more instructive to how important a player is to his team rather than simple things like goals.
But, as Carragher says, for a player who’s regularly being picked to play in an attacking area, that should still be the bread and butter.
And in those respects, Szoboszlai is not contributing nearly enough for Liverpool. One goal and two assists in 11 matches is not the return of £60m player. He’s doing a job, but he can certainly be doing a better one.
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