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Why Dominic Szboszlai Keeps Arne Slot Up at Night

There are footballers who win you games, and footballers who keep you guessing, and Hungarian Dominik Szoboszlai is both. Against all logic, in Sunday's match between Liverpool and Man City, he opened proceedings in the second half by scoring a a free-kick that belonged in a highlights reel. Then, almost on cue, as the game dwindled to a close, Szoboszlai exited the stage early through a VAR decision that felt soft at best and chaotic at worst. Liverpool went on to lose. Arne Slot has a Szoboszlai paradox on his hands, and today's game condensed this into 90 minutes.

OH MY WORD SZOBOSZLAI WHAT A GOAL, WHAT A FREE KICK🤯🤯🤯
pic.twitter.com/RN3DNRtQge
— The 44 ⚽️ (@The_Forty_Four) August 31, 2025

From a tactical standpoint, it’s easy to see why Arne Slot both adores and fears him. Capable of playing as a central midfielder, an attacking midfielder, and even at right-back, Szoboszlai presses like a man on a mission, strikes the ball like he’s got a problem with it, and boasts the ability to put the team on his shoulders with word-class moments. This season, Liverpool have struggled to recreate their title winning form of last season, and very few players in the side offer the rare blend of athleticism, technique, and adaptability that Szoboszlai offers.

Dominik Szoboszlai’s red card was not necessary… he should’ve just allow them score pic.twitter.com/IhPhiLh8yD
— Highest Majesty (@Kwaku_Majesty_G) February 8, 2026

Then there’s the other side. Sunday's game saw the Hungarian commit a needless foul, encapsulating a prime example of where impulse beats intelligence. With the game entering the end of stoppage time, Liverpool were 2-1 down. Man City hit them on the counter, pushing past the entire team. As the ball rolled towards the net, inevitably going in, Szoboszlai pulled down Erling Haaland from behind in the box, and as the ball went in, Szoboszlai's decision further humiliated the Reds at Anfield. After the goal was initially allowed, a VAR call pulled play back to review the foul made by Szoboszlai, and this resulted in him receiving a straight red card. This is where his recklessness comes in.

So far this season, Szoboszlai has already scored more goals than he did in the previous season in 15 less games, and he plays on the edge because that’s where his brilliance lives, but maybe sometimes he just forgets where the edge ends.

Slot’s problem isn’t fixing Szoboszlai. It’s living with him. One way or another, Szoboszlai is impacting the scoresheet. When he hits, he can change the game in Liverpool's favour, and when he's not doing it for Liverpool, he's doing it to them. Genius and brainlessness stitched together, under pressure manager Arne Slot must be having sleepless nights at the thought of his player's next move. After the loss, Liverpool remain sixth, 4 points behind fifth placed Chelsea and 5 points off a top four spot. Due to his actions, Szoboszlai will now face a 3 game suspension.

Can't live with him, but can't live without him!