Liverpool swiftly put paid to the notion that a bleak demise was on the cards after Jurgen Klopp said farewell. From the standpoint of the Premier League, things could hardly be going any better.
Sure, sure, Liverpool are out of all three cup competitions, but Arne Slot has done exemplary work on Merseyside this season, gathering the resources available and enriching the squad. With nine top-flight fixtures still to play, the Reds are 12 points clear of second-place Arsenal, a chasmic gap.
However, it would be remiss not to address the issues at Anfield. And there are problems. Liverpool’s robust and relentless first-team crop have worked wonders this year, but wintry defeats against PSV Eindhoven and Plymouth Argyle (you remember them), seemingly convinced in Slot’s mind his fringe ranks need some work.
The midfield, in particular, has looked a little leggy of late – and is it surprising? Slot’s tried and trusted central trio play together most every week, but recent defeats against Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United spoke of a sapped bunch.
Dominik Szoboszlai has perhaps looked the most fresh, but then he’s got an indefatigable engine to marvel at.
Dominik Szoboszlai's season in numbers
Klopp drove Liverpool’s pursuit of Szoboszlai in 2023 as he sought to redress Liverpool’s midfield woes, bagging the athletic midfielder from RB Leipzig after meeting his £60m release clause.
A hefty fee, that, but one Liverpool will be delighted with paying. Szoboszlai didn’t enjoy the finest of debut campaigns but he showed more than enough ability. This year, he’s made tremendous progress in Slot’s system.
A purple patch since the turn of the calendar year has lifted the star’s seasonal haul to seven goals and six assists across 40 matches in all competitions, but that still leaves room for something desirable.
Indeed, for all his quality, Szoboszlai still lacks that Midas touch in the final third. Much has been made of the forwards’ profligacy, and rightly so, but Liverpool’s No. 8 could have assuaged the woes of his frontal peers with more clinical performances.
It’s not the most pressing concern that sporting director Richard Hughes must contend with this summer, but Liverpool are believed to be leading the race for a star would could add some competition in attacking midfield.
Who knows, he may even be an upgrade on the 24-year-old.
Liverpool ready offer for summer transfer
According to Spanish sources, Liverpool are preparing to launch an official offer for coveted playmaker Xavi Simons. Curiously, the Dutch international plies his art with RB Leipzig.
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The bid in question is said to be worth around €80m (£67m), which would make Simons, 21, one of the most expensive players in Liverpool’s history, more so than Szoboszlai.
Manchester United are also keen on adding the diminutive dynamo to their ranks, but the Reds have the lead in the race and must now act with conviction to strengthen the squad.
What Xavi Simons would bring to Liverpool
Aside from fortifying the Dutch tinge to the Liverpool set-up, Simons is a silky and stylish attacking midfielder whose performances over the past several years have led analyst Ben Mattinson to pronounce he will become “one of the best in the world.”
Already something of a footballing nomad, Simons joined Leipzig permanently from PSG in January, having first joined on loan ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
The results, for sure, have been promising. 68 appearances have yielded a healthy haul of 31 goal involvements, with the Netherlands native’s ability to play across the attacking positions something Slot is no doubt excited by.
Left winger
35
7
8
Right winger
17
5
5
Attacking midfield
16
6
6
Simons’ knack for maintaining a steady production rate despite being shuffled about the frontline makes a compelling case that he’s fit for a role in Slot’s squad.
After all, he’s got a whole host of creative qualities that suggest he could outstrip Szoboszlai in front of goal. As per FBref, Simons ranks among the top 12% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 9% for progressive passes and the top 17% for shot-creating actions per 90.
Not bad at all, something that would surely enhance Liverpool’s transitional play, driving the ball forward and crafting openings for the forwards to feast upon.
Now, the caveat to all this would be that Szoboszlai posted higher counts when playing for Leipzig, and the jump to Premier League football may well knock Simons’ tally down.
However, this data from which to consider, not a rulebook to be strictly adhered to.
Simons perhaps poses more of a natural goal threat than Liverpool’s Hungarian engine. He’s certainly more focused on his sparkling playmaking, his eye for goal more eagle-tuned.
Sofascore also record some intriguing data to corroborate the praise around his name. Simons has bagged seven goals in the Bundesliga this season while only skewing two big chances wide. This is a promising level of clinical output, especially given he’s averaging 2.3 key passes, 1.3 dribbles and 5.3 successful duels per match.
This is a player of many parts. Szoboszlai boasts similar qualities, but he’s less accurate with his shooting and less productive across most other metrics. The Hungary skipper has missed seven big chances in the Premier League, scoring five goals. He also averages 1.5 key passes, 0.7 dribbles and 3.1 duels per game.
Ultimately, both stars could make a marked impact in Slot’s squad over the coming years; there’s room for two.
Liverpool need that extra injection of depth across a range of areas this summer, and with Simons signed, it might just be enough to prevent another Spring drop-off for a Liverpool side chasing silverware across multiple fronts.
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