Arne Slot has found elite Liverpool answer to Jurgen Klopp's famous Sky Sports quote
Arne Slot's tactical evolution at Liverpool has seen the No. 10 role make a comeback, a stark contrast to Jurgen Klopp's preference for a relentless high-press system over a traditional playmaker.
"Counter-pressing makes exactly the same [influence as a playmaker]," Klopp famously explained on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football. "No playmaker in the world can be as good as a good counter-pressing situation."
Slot has managed to retain the iconic high press of the Klopp era while also allowing for a more creative midfield presence. Dominik Szoboszlai has been the chosen one to spearhead this change, operating further up the pitch and already contributing two assists for Mohamed Salah in just three games.
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Szoboszlai's attributes his dynamism, shooting prowess, and stamina are proving to be a perfect fit for the advanced midfield role at Anfield. His tendency to make runs past the striker adds another dimension to Liverpool's attack.
Data from Fbref shows that Szoboszlai is among the elite when it comes to taking shots, sitting in the 99th percentile for total shots among midfielders in Europe's top-five leagues over the past year. Furthermore, his expected assisted goals (xAG) metric, which measures the likelihood of his passes leading to shots as per Opta, is impressively high at 97%, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Szoboszlai's shot-creating actions stand at an impressive 96%, with his progressive carries and touches in the opposition penalty area ranking at 97 and 96% respectively. These statistics suggest that Szoboszlai has the potential to become one of Europe's top attacking midfielders, provided he can maintain consistency and boost traditional metrics like goals and assists.
It's not surprise to see Fbref's data lists Harvey Elliott, who Szoboszlai is vying with for the No. 10 spot at Anfield, as the most 'similar player'. Former Liverpool midfielder Luis Alberto, now playing for Al Duhail in Qatar, ranks third on this list, ahead of Premier League stars Bernardo Silva of Manchester City and Martin Odegaard of Arsenal.
Ilkay Gundogan, who recently returned to City after a season at Barcelona, is sixth. This is quite an illustrious list for Szoboszlai to find himself compared to. The numbers also bode well for Elliott, despite being sidelined for at least a month due to a foot fracture sustained on international duty.
According to Fbref's data, Elliott ranks as high as 99% for metrics such as total number of shots and assists. His xAG stands at 94%, and he ranks in the 96th percentile for shot-creating actions. His progressive passes are at 91%, and his progressive carries reach as high as 97%.
Elliott's skill, technique and movement may distinguish him as a unique type of No. 10 compared to the more robust Szoboszlai, but it's intriguing how their styles align according to Fbref data.
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For the time being, Slot has the privilege of choosing between the two as the season progresses, even though Elliott will be out for a few weeks with a broken foot. Looking ahead, the potential comeback of an advanced attacking midfielder, whose creativity is crucial to Liverpool's line-up, might pave a new path for the recruitment team.
Neither Szoboszlai nor Elliott fit the traditional No. 10 mould - players who did minimal defensive work and were the focal point of all attacks due to their playmaking skills. The Reds haven't really had such a player in their squad since Philippe Coutinho left Anfield for Barcelona in 2018.
However, as the requirements for Liverpool's most offensive midfielder gradually evolve under Slot, a new focus for the recruitment team may naturally emerge. Given that they previously chose not to pursue more creative attacking midfielders due to Klopp's preferred style, are No. 10s now back on the agenda at Anfield? It's something worth watching in the future.