After emphatically winning the league in the 2024-25 campaign, Arne Slot has wasted no time in bolstering his side in preparation for a title defence next term. There have been some huge signings already, with Florian Wirtz the most exciting of all. The club record signing will be an instant starter in Slot’s XI, but what will that mean for the current midfielders at Anfield?
One player who will be wondering about his future is Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian had an excellent season playing in an attacking midfield role for the Reds, but he may now find that his duties change with Wirtz coming in. Will Szoboszlai now become a backup player for the former Bayer Leverkusen man, or will the two be able to work together?
Huge Money Signing Will Be a Guaranteed Starter
According to reports, Liverpool forked out a whopping £100 million to secure Wirtz, making the German the club’s most expensive player ever. There’s no way the club would pay that kind of money to leave the player on the bench, meaning that he is set to be a guaranteed starter for Slot. What’s more, he could mark the beginning of a transformation for Liverpool, with Slot set to build his side around the world class star.
Szoboszlai would be right to wonder what this means for his position at the club. Prior to the Wirtz signing, the Hungarian was the third most expensive acquisition in the club’s history, so it wouldn’t represent great value if he was now resigned to bench-warming duties on matchdays. This suggests that Slot may have a plan in place to have the two attacking midfielders working together in a brand new system.
Can the Two Players Coexist?
Szoboszlai was one of Liverpool’s strongest performers in the first half of the 2024–25 season, and he won’t be giving up his place without a fight. His work rate, ball-carrying ability, and long-range threat bring a more physical edge compared to Wirtz’s finesse. But stylistically, the two occupy similar areas of the pitch and may find that they step on each other’s toes if Slot isn’t clear on how he wants them both to operate.
There is a chance that the two midfielders could coexist and thrive, as long as Slot defines their roles and makes it clear what he wants from them. Sports Illustrated believes that Szoboszlai’s position could be under threat, but there are other pundits that believe his role could simply evolve. In many games, Wirtz will take on the classic number 10 position, and this could mean that Szoboszlai reverts to a box-to-box role. In other matches against low blocks, Slot may allow them to operate as a pair of 10s, designed to unlock tight defences.
There’s also a chance that Wirtz could play as a false nine or a striker, meaning that Szoboszlai could then play as the sole attacking midfielder. What’s immediately evident is that Slot now has a variety of great options in attack, and will be able to mix things up against different opponents.
Liverpool Set for Transformation This Season
Liverpool need to capitalise on their recent form under Slot and aim to maintain their dominance at the top of the table. According to the latest odds as of the 28th of June, Liverpool are 9/4 with Betway to retain the Premier League, suggesting that sportsbooks believe they have a chance of doing it again.
The Guardian believes that the Wirtz signing will immediately pay off, with the German primed and ready for a fresh challenge. His rapid ascent in the Bundesliga has proven that he’s ready to adapt to his new surroundings, and he will lead a transformation at Anfield. Slot’s first team last season was mainly made up of Jurgen Klopp’s players, and now the new manager is beginning the shift towards transforming the side in line with his own vision.
Big changes are afoot at Anfield, and it will be interesting to see what impact the Wirtz singing will have on the rest of the team. Regardless of what it means for formations, it’s likely to lead Szoboszlai to raise his game so that he remains in consideration alongside the big money signing.