How Szoboszlai has 'transformed' Liverpool's midfield
The Athletic FC Podcast
The Athletic
4.0 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 25 October 2023
⏱️ 32 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
After Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner and Naby Keita all left Anfield in the summer transfer window, Jurgen Klopp’s midfield required a full-scale re-build - with Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai at the heart of it.
The 23-year-old is the only Liverpool outfielder to have played in all 810 minutes of the Premier League campaign so far, and is already a fan-favourite on Merseyside.
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Raphael Honigstein, data writer Mark Carey and Neil Atkinson from The Anfield Wrap, to assess the his 'transformative' impact, changing role in Klopp's team and whether comparisons to club legend Steven Gerrard are worthy.
Produced by Mike Stavrou
Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The Athletic |
| 0:02.8 | On Merseyside, they are already running out of superlatives for Liverpool's new number eight. |
| 0:13.7 | That's a lovely ball by Endo. That's Dominic Somers. |
| 0:16.2 | Oh, that's electrifying. |
| 0:19.2 | You just cannot even put into words the start he's had to his Liverpool career. |
| 0:24.9 | But how did Dominic Zabotslie adapt so quickly to playing under Juergen Klopp? |
| 0:30.3 | Are the Stephen Gerard comparisons premature? |
| 0:33.3 | And has any other Premier League's summer signing had quite as big an impact? |
| 0:38.2 | Well, let's find out. |
| 0:39.4 | I'm Ayurki-Wolere. |
| 0:40.6 | Welcome to the Athletic Football Podcast. |
| 0:45.0 | I think he's just a natural, born football player. |
| 0:49.2 | You just get a feeling with someone who just knows and understands the game. |
| 0:53.2 | They don't overcomplicate it. |
| 0:55.1 | It's not a certain system or a certain way of playing that brings the best out |
| 0:59.8 | to them. |
| 1:00.1 | They can kind of do everything and it's just natural. |
| 1:05.7 | All right, let's do this. |
| 1:06.9 | So good to be back with us for this one. |
| 1:08.9 | We're joined by the Athletics, Raphael Honingstein, data writer Mark Carey, and also Neil Atkinson from the Anfield Rap. Let's talk Zobbertslie. Neil, the athletics, Andy Jones wrote following the Merseyside Derby last weekend. He basically said, despite never having played in this famous picture before he took to the Merseyside Derby like a dock to water, just as he has done in the Premier League. |
| 1:31.4 | What are your thoughts on Zobbertslai's time at Amfield so far? |
| 1:35.8 | He's looked at business and he's enjoying himself. |
... |
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