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Liverpool's right-back problems

Bradley was nursing a knock coming into the 2025/26 Premier League campaign while Frimpong pulled up during the first game of the season against Bournemouth.

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It meant Slot had a difficult decision to make heading into matchday two against Newcastle. With Joe Gomez not long back after an injury of his own, Slot opted for Dominik Szoboszlai in an unfamiliar right-back station.

The Hungarian midfielder is more at home at No8 or No10 - but has had to watch on as Florian Wirtz is given the central playmaking role.

Szoboszlai flawless at right-back

He delivered a flawless performance against the Geordies last Monday - locking down Harvey Barnes during a tough examination away from home for the Reds.

Szoboszlai even popped up to provide a stunning dummy which led to Rio Ngumoha’s winner. His tireless workrate and quality on the ball have long been valued by Liverpool - but he’s taken his game to new heights in the last week.

Without both Bradley and Frimpong yet again on Sunday - Szoboszlai was given the starting berth on the right side of defence once again.

Szoboszlai's MotM display

And what a display it was.

Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli got no change out of the Hungary captain and overall Szoboszlai put in a man-of-the-match performance.

The former RB Leipzig midfielder won 100 percent of his aerial duels, 100 percent of his tackles, two out of three ground duels, made five recoveries, six clearances and finished with a 92 percent pass completion rate.

And that’s before we get to his goal.

Szoboszlai's incredible winner

You will be hard pressed to find a better free-kick than the one which clinched a 1-0 win for the Reds against Arsenal on Sunday.

The quality speaks for itself; the first direct free-kick scored by any Liverpool player other than Trent Alexander-Arnold since Philippe Coutinho in 2017.

Szoboszlai replaced Trent at right-back and now he’s replaced him as the club’s No1 free-kick taker too.

He might not get to play in his favourite position this season - owing to the presence of Wirtz - but Szoboszlai deserves to be among the first names on the teamsheet.