Andoni Iraola has apparently given Dominik Szoboszlai something he desperately wanted to hear.
You’re a midfielder.
And you’re not going to be Liverpool’s right-back.
Szoboszlai has revealed that Iraola made it clear to him that he would not be regularly used at right-back this season — something the Hungarian admits “meant a lot” to him.
And honestly?
I think this is the right decision.
Szoboszlai is a midfielder
There is absolutely no doubt that Szoboszlai can do a job at right-back.
We’ve seen him do it.
He has the energy, athleticism, passing ability and intelligence to fill in there when Liverpool are desperate.
But there is a huge difference between being capable of playing somewhere and being the right player to build a team around in that position.
Szoboszlai is a midfielder.
And not just any midfielder.
He is one of Liverpool’s most important players.
He has the ability to receive the ball from the defence, carry it forward, switch play, arrive in the box and create chances.
That is where Liverpool should be getting the best out of him.
Szoboszlai himself explained that his preferred role is as a box-to-box No.8, where he can get on the ball, play long passes, arrive in the penalty area and shoot from distance.
That tells you everything.
But what about Liverpool’s right-back problem?
This is where it gets interesting.
Because Liverpool still haven’t completely solved right-back.
Conor Bradley remains unavailable, while Jeremie Frimpong has endured a difficult start to life at Liverpool.
There was a point when it looked as though Szoboszlai might become the emergency solution.
Iraola even said earlier this season that Szoboszlai was willing to play anywhere if the team needed him, highlighting the value of his versatility.
But that doesn’t mean Liverpool should make him their right-back.
And I don’t think they should.
Versatility is a weapon — but don’t abuse it
This is something managers have to be careful with.
A player being capable of playing multiple positions can sometimes become a curse.
Because suddenly the manager thinks:
“He can do a job there.”
And before you know it, the player is constantly being moved around.
One week he’s a No.8.
The next he’s a No.10.
Then he’s on the right wing.
Then he’s playing right-back.
Then he’s back in midfield.
That isn’t necessarily the best way to develop a player’s consistency.
Szoboszlai needs to know what Liverpool expect from him.
And it sounds like Iraola has given him that clarity.
Liverpool need Szoboszlai in midfield
For me, this is the bigger point.
Liverpool’s midfield has looked much more balanced with Alexis Mac Allister and Szoboszlai operating centrally.
Szoboszlai’s physicality is important.
His pressing is important.
His ability to cover ground is important.
And his willingness to make forward runs is something Liverpool need.
If you move him to right-back, you lose those qualities in midfield.
And you replace them with a player who isn’t actually a natural defender.
That doesn’t make sense to me over the course of a season.
It doesn’t mean Szoboszlai can never play there
There’s an important distinction here.
Szoboszlai hasn’t said:
“I’m refusing to play right-back.”
Quite the opposite.
He made it clear that if Iraola genuinely needs him there, he will make himself available.
That’s exactly what you want from a Liverpool player.
He can have a preferred position.
He can want to play in midfield.
But when his manager says:
“I need you here today.”
He still does the job.
That’s professionalism.
So if Liverpool suddenly have an injury crisis and Iraola needs Szoboszlai at right-back for one match, I’m sure he’ll do it.
But that’s very different from making it part of his normal role.
I think Iraola has handled this well
One of the things I like about this is that Iraola appears to understand the player.
Szoboszlai wants to play midfield.
He wants responsibility.
He wants to influence games.
And he has qualities that Liverpool desperately need in that area.
So rather than constantly asking him to cover weaknesses elsewhere, Iraola appears to be telling him:
“You’re my midfielder.”
That can only be a positive.
Especially for a player who has already become such an important figure at Anfield.
But Liverpool still need to solve right-back
This doesn’t mean the right-back problem disappears.
It actually makes the situation even clearer.
Liverpool need a proper solution.
Maybe that eventually comes from Conor Bradley returning.
Maybe Frimpong improves defensively.
Maybe Isaac Mabaya gets an opportunity.
Maybe Liverpool revisit the position in January.
But I don’t want the answer to simply be:
“Put Szoboszlai there.”
Because that’s taking one of Liverpool’s best midfielders away from the position where he can have the biggest impact.
My verdict
Yes — I think Iraola has made the right decision.
Szoboszlai should be Liverpool’s midfielder.
He can cover at right-back when absolutely necessary, and his willingness to do so is a huge asset.
But Liverpool shouldn’t rely on his versatility to hide a weakness in the squad.
They need to solve the right-back problem properly.
And they need to let Szoboszlai do what he does best.
Play midfield.
Because when Szoboszlai is driving Liverpool forward from the middle of the pitch, that’s where I want him.
Not at right-back.
Iraola has apparently made that clear to him.
And I think that’s exactly what Szoboszlai wanted to hear.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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