Arne Slot comments confirm Dominik Szoboszlai is at risk

Arne Slot hinted after the game against Bournemouth on Friday night that TWO of his three midfield positions are settled.

Newcastle away is on the horizon and the Reds have got some midfield issues to solve. The Premier League title-holders came in for some criticism following the opening day win against the Cherries - with their midfield sector overrun on the counter-attack.

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Antoine Semenyo benefitted on the night - and the pattern of Liverpool being caught high up the pitch was also spotted at various times in preseason.

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It appears the addition of Florian Wirtz in the advanced midfield position will have a knock-on effect.

If the British-record signing is always going to play centrally then it means one of the three players who performed so well during the title-winning campaign is going to lose out.

Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Wirtz in midfield

Most at risk would appear to be Dominik Szoboszlai.

He faced some early barbs from Arne Slot during his first season in charge about his rate of goalscoring and assists.

But there are few other players with the work ethic and ability of Szoboszlai - a schemer capable of getting the team going with forward passes and also willing to work hard to win the ball back.

He has been Mohamed Salah’s legs and lungs defensively in the past 12 months - and taking him out of the team - or moving him to another area could well have a detrimental impact.

But Slot basically told Sky Sports on Friday that the two other preferred midfielders - Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister - are nailed-on starters for Newcastle on Monday.

Let's see if the midfield changes

"Ryan Gravenberch was last season very important as well,” he said. "With Alexis Mac Allister only being back for two or three weeks of the pre-season, we lost a little bit of that control in our midfield.

“But Ryan will be back next week and Macca will be fit again, and we need to find a better balance."

So the ideal midfield in the eyes of Slot would appear to be Gravenberch and Mac Allister with Wirtz in front. We will have to see how that one develops as the next few games play out as it could eventually lead to Slot making changes.

Wirtz out wide?

What we could see is Szoboszlai restored to the No10 position - where he can influence the game both in and out of possession - and Wirtz played out wide from the left.

Although not a typical winger, the German international did most of his best work for Leverkusen in the so-called “half space” on the left side of their attack.

From there he can create chances, dribble and take on shots. It might well be where he ends up playing for Liverpool even if right now he’s been earmarked as the No10.

Slot has admitted that Liverpool need to find better balance as he moves into Phase 2 of his Anfield plan. It will take some time to work out the exact formula in order to get the best out of the players at his disposal.

But in midfield at least there may eventually be a case of “if it ain’t broke” regarding Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai for this season at least.

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