Dominik Szoboszlai was back in a Liverpool shirt after missing the second game of pre-season due to a slight ankle injury, and he was back showcasing why he is the perfect player for Jürgen Klopp.
From almost scoring from the half-way line with an audacious chip to continually pestering and pressuring his opponents, the Hungarian international skipper had a successful and exciting display in Singapore.
But the goal he helped produce was probably the highlight of his 30 minutes in a Liverpool shirt, hitting a fantastic corner kick onto the head of Jol Matip, who then headed it onto Ben Doak, who nodded the ball into the back of the net.
It appeared to be a typical corner kick, something that had been practiced on the practice field. However, for those who saw Szoboszlai’s quality for Leipzig and Hungary last season, this was a classic delivery.
The Hungarian has a talent for making pinpoint accurate set-pieces and creating dangerous situations, as evidenced by his goal against Leicester. Last season, he was personally involved in three set-piece goals for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, but he also assisted indirectly to four goals.
Szoboszlai also produced two direct set-piece goals and two indirect set-piece goals for the Hungarian national team during that time, completing well-practiced set-ups from the training field to perfection.
Szoboszlai has developed into one of the top set-piece players in the world, dating back to his childhood, when he would train 100-200 free-kicks a day, according to his father for First Time Finish.
Szoboszlai would often go through hours of tape before games with the Hungarian national team to study the opposition’s goalkeepers and how they move for set-pieces. He will undoubtedly do the same at Liverpool.
Set-pieces are not a new technique for Liverpool or Klopp. In reality, Liverpool was the greatest team in the Premier League last season when it came to scoring directly from set-pieces, leading the table with Fulham on nine goals.
However, the addition of Szoboszlai’s danger provides Klopp with even more ammunition to dominate in this area. After only 75 minutes in a Liverpool shirt, the Hungarian has already demonstrated his ability to deliver set-pieces, and while this aspect of the game is frequently neglected, it is an important component of football.
Especially for a team like Liverpool, which frequently struggles to break against low-block defenses. Having someone in the team who can deliver deliveries and set-pieces from the training ground to perfection might be the key to breaking down those defenses and ensuring Liverpool achieves the desired outcome.
Liverpool now boasts two world-class specialists in this area: Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Then there’s Alexis MacAllister and Andy Robertson, who can both be productive, making Klopp’s team a huge threat from both sides of the field.
Not to add Szoboszlai’s field specialization, which makes Liverpool unpredictable from set-pieces. Not just Alexander-Arnold, but even the Hungarian, may now produce a lethal chance or score immediately off a set-piece.
If they all line up behind the ball, the opposition will have no idea what to anticipate or who will take the set-piece, giving Liverpool a significant edge in terms of catching their opponents off guard, which is frequently a critical component in delivering a successful set-piece. Klopp’s new weapon may not be kept hidden for long, but it promises to be extremely powerful.
