Robbie Keane demands more from £60m Liverpool ace who ‘needs to improve one thing’

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It feels strange to suggest that, despite cruising to the Premier League title with four games remaining, the feeling is that a number of Arne Slot’s Liverpool charges are still performing slightly below their true potential.

Ibrahima Konate could become a Premier League ‘great’ but, right now, the Frenchman is some way off matching the impeccable standards of his centre-back partner Virgil van Dijk.

Cody Gakpo feels he has reached another level under Arne Slot, exceeding last season’s tally of 16 in nine fewer matches. The 17-goal Dutchman still has a few gears to move through, however, as he looks to emulate the success of his left-wing predecessor Sadio Mane.

And while Arne Slot is no doubt about the importance of Dominik Szoboszlai – arguably the most athletic and forceful of Liverpool’s midfield triumvirate – the £60 million signing from RB Leipzig is yet to unlock the goalscoring streak that would elevate him into one of the planet’s premiere operators.

Szoboszlai has a respectable seven goals and eight assists to his name this season.

But, for a footballer blessed with such pure ball-striking ability, many Liverpool supporters are understandably demanding more. Double figures, both for goals and assists, feels like a realistic target ahead what Arne Slot hopes will be a successful title defence in 2025/26.

Robbie Keane wants more from Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai

Former Anfield stalwart Jamie Carragher feels Liverpool may need a Cole Palmer or their answer to Man City’s Phil Foden if they are to ease the goalscoring burden on runaway top scorer Mo Salah.

However, if Dominik Szoboszlai can put his hammer of a right-boot to better use in the final third, the power-packed number eight could yet become the first Liverpool midfielder to score more than ten times in a single season since Philippe Coutinho in 2017/18.

One-time Reds striker Robbie Keane is currently working in Szoboszlai’s homeland.

Since taking over at Ferencvaros in January, Keane has helped overhaul Puskas Akademia at the top of the table. Ferencvaros can move to within touching distance of a seventh-straight title by beating their rivals on Saturday.

Keane, while paying tribute to the outstanding work Slot has done on Merseyside, was also asked about Szoboszlai’s impact. He is not alone in demanding a little more, even if his first two years in England have been anything but unsuccesful.

“The coach [Arne Slot] trusts Szoboszlai and he plays him a lot,” says Keane. “He’s energetic, physically strong and knows [how to do] everything with the ball.

“Maybe he just needs to improve in one thing. He needs more goals and assists. He has everything he needs to make that happen.

“This season must have given him a lot of confidence and he’s been an important player for Liverpool.”

Keane says Arne Slot’s team are the rightful champions

Keane, who scored only five Premier League goals during a brief spell at Liverpool in 2008/09, is in no doubt that the title is in the right hands.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LiverpoolLiverpool	34	25	7	2	80	32	48	82
2	ArsenalArsenal	34	18	13	3	63	29	34	67
3	NewcastleNewcastle	34	19	5	10	65	44	21	62
4	Man CityManchester City	34	18	7	9	66	43	23	61
5	ChelseaChelsea	34	17	9	8	59	40	19	60
6	Nottm ForestNottingham Forest	33	18	6	9	53	39	14	60

“It’s clear that Liverpool were the best team in the Premier League season,” adds the former Tottenham, Aston Villa, Leeds United and Inter Milan marksman. “A new manager arrived and it’s never easy to implement your ideas in the first period. But he managed it, and he inherited a great squad.

“They played great football this season. They deserve it.”