Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai endured a mixed night for Hungary with the Premier League star producing a goal and an assist despite struggling in a more deep-lying role in Euro 2024 qualifying.
Some may have derided Marco Rossi’s decision as ‘madness’, but there was at least some ‘method’ to it.
Dominik Szoboszlai, by far and away Hungary’s most gifted footballer, was deployed in a deeper role as Hungary took on Lithuania, coach Rossi hoping that a new, more withdrawn position would allow Liverpool’s summer signing to dictate proceedings and set the tempo.
That, however, is not exactly how things panned out.
Mixed night for Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai
“My idea was for Szoboszlai to play his football further back,” Rossi tells MTI at full-time. “But it didn’t work out. It’s as if we missed the first half completely. We left a large area for the opponent, who took advantage of it.”
It is no coincidence that, once Szoboszlai reverted to a more attacking position at the break, Hungary were a team transformed. The former RB Leipzig star pulled one back from the penalty spot before cancelling out Lithuania’s initial 2-0 lead with a wicked corner, headed home gratefully by Barnabas Varga on the 82nd minute.
Those were Szoboszlai’s first ‘goal contributions’ after three barren international appearances.
‘The changed worked’
“The changes made during the break worked,” Rossi adds. “The picture of the match completely changed, and we broke through the opponent’s defence several times, so we had a lot of chances.
“The Lithuanian goalkeeper defended brilliantly, so we didn’t manage to win.”
A £60 million acquisition from the esteemed Red Bull finishing school, Szoboszlai has arguably made the biggest impact of any Premier League newcomer in the early weeks of the new campaign.
Jurgen Klopp has utilised the playmaker almost solely as a ‘number eight’ and, after an ill-advised tactical experiment blew up in Rossi’s face like Seamus Finnigan attempting the simplest of spells, do not be surprised if that is the position Szoboszlai plays for his country from now on too.
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