Liverpool can now UNLEASH set-piece specialist

There’s a free kick specialist waiting to be unleashed at Liverpool.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving the club, there’s going to be a void that needs to be filled.

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From the beginning of his career, Alexander-Arnold has made himself known as a bit of a free-kick specialist.

It all started with that goal against Hoffenheim with Alexander-Arnold scoring an absolute banger of a goal in a crucial game directly from a free-kick.

Throughout the years, Alexander-Arnold has delivered those moments time and time again.

In total he has scored eight direct free kick goals in his career so far.

He’s also delivered countless corners and free-kicks that ended up turning into goals as well.

Most notably that corner taken quickly to Divock Origi against Barcelona. Which will forever be remembered as one of the best moments in the club’s history.

But now Alexander-Arnold is leaving. Liverpool will have to find a new free kick specialist and there’s already one waiting for his chance and ready to be unleashed.

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We’re talking about Dominik Szoboszlai, of course.

He’s not had a lot of opportunities to take free-kicks and set-pieces at Liverpool but he has proven himself as a very adept set-piece taker before his move to Anfield.

At RB Leipzig just under 35% of his total goal contributions for the German side in the Bundesliga came from set-pieces.

In total Szoboszlai has scored eight goals directly from a free-kick during the same period as Alexander-Arnold at club level.

In that period he also has three direct free-kick goals for his country as well, against Slovakia, Turkey and Bulgaria.

As a youngster, when I spoke to Szoboszlai’s father, he revealed that his son would practise around 100-200 free-kicks everyday.

That level of dedication has made the Hungarian into a deadly set-piece taker.

Because Alexander-Arnold has been at the club for longer and had proven himself in a red shirt, the responsibility fell to him during his time at the club.

However, next season is an opportunity for Szoboszlai to take over and become the primary free-kick taker.

His numbers and record prior to his time at Liverpool would indicate he will be a more than astute replacement.

Stepping into the role will also give Szoboszlai the opportunity to live up to the number on the back of his shirt as well.

Before him, Steven Gerrard was known for his deadly free-kicks. The former Liverpool captain scored 10 free-kick goals during his time at the club.

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If Szoboszlai can replicate that, Liverpool will have a major threat from set-pieces even in the absence of Alexander-Arnold.