Heading into the 2023/24 campaign it was clear that Liverpool needed a revamp in midfield.
The season prior was a disaster for the Reds as Jurgen Klopp’s men finished fifth in the Premier League while being dumped out early of every cup competition.
A big reason for this was Liverpool’s midfield as Fabinho’s legs had gone, Jordan Henderson’s level had dropped, while Thiago and Naby Keita struggled to stay off of the treatment table.
If Liverpool wanted to compete they would need to address this and ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, four new arrivals would make a big difference at Anfield.
Among them was Dominik Szoboszlai, however, the Hungarian star was not Liverpool’s first choice when it came to addressing the number eight role in Klopp’s team.
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Liverpool hoped to agree Mason Mount deal before signing Dominik Szoboszlai
Szoboszlai arrived at Liverpool during the summer of 2023 after the Merseyside club agreed to match the £60m release clause in his RB Leipzig deal.
The hierarchy at the Reds viewed this as a good deal for the then 22-year-old as there was plenty of room for development and the midfielder already had an abundance of natural technical ability.
The move for Szoboszlai came about after Liverpool showed interest in Mason Mount with the Liverpool Echo reporting that the Merseyside club had tracked the English star for months as his Chelsea contract was coming to an end.
Liverpool were confident a deal for Mount could be done, however, the £60m Chelsea demanded turned the Reds off.
The Englishman would later join Man United for around the same price and given how the midfielder’s career has panned out at Old Trafford, Liverpool made the right decision bringing Szoboszlai to Anfield.
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Dominik Szoboszlai has helped Liverpool dodge Mason Mount bullet
Although Szoboszlai has not been exceptional on a consistent basis at Liverpool, the Hungary international has been a successful signing for the Reds and will continue to get better under Arne Slot’s guidance.
The 24-year-old has featured 73 times for Liverpool since joining in 2023, producing 10 goals and nine assists.
Jamie Carragher wants Szoboszlai to contribute more over the remainder of the season as the Hungarian does not produce in the way Kevin De Bruyne, Cole Palmer and Martin Odegaard do in the Premier League.
In saying that, Mount has only played 32 times for Man United, with only one goal and one assist to his name in Manchester.
Chelsea saved Liverpool from making a big mistake back in 2023 and given Szoboszlai’s potential, it might look even better again in a few months.
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