Liverpool have acted decisively to improve their midfield this summer with the acquisitions of Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig and Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton.
These two additions have Reds fans questioning how they will fit into manager Jurgen Klopp's system and in this examination we are going to break down the impact each of these players will have on Liverpool this season.
KLOPP'S NEW SYSTEM
In the latter stages of the 2022/23 season, we saw Klopp adopt a similar system as Pep Guardiola did with Manchester City (as he did with his previous Bayern Munich and Barcelona teams). They would be setup as a 3-2-5 formation, with one of the back four inverting into midfield. This is something Klopp experimented with towards the back end of the past campaign, utilising Trent Alexander-Arnold in an inverted right back role, to allow him to move inside into midfield and get the best out of his passing abilities.
This is how the team could set up in this new "3-2-5" system. Allowing Alexander-Arnold to invert into midfield, alongside another defensive midfielder such as Stefan Bajcetic, or another signing due to the doubts over the futures of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson. This would then allow both Mac Allister and Szoboszlai to play in advanced 8 positions, which suits their playing styles.
Klopp's vision here was clearly to create a box midfield with two defensive midfielders (Alexander-Arnold and one other defensive-minded midfielder), with two attacking 8's, who thrive in attacking the spaces between the midfield and defensive oppositions lines, in the half spaces.
There would be good versatility within this system too, as Liverpool have the likes of Thiago, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, as well as Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota in forward areas. I believe the way Liverpool have built this squad, is all pointing towards Klopp advancing with this 3-2-5 system the same way Pep has done.
DOMINIK SZOBOSZLAI
For Leipzig, Szoboszlai was deployed in one of the attacking 10 roles, on both the left and right sides last season. He made 45 appearances, scoring 10 goals and providing 13 assists.
As you can see above by the average position map, Szoboszlai had the role of providing width for Leipzig, as well as drifting into the half spaces to link up play. However in the 2021/22 season, he was used in the central attacking midfield zone much more.
I believe by giving Szoboszlai one of the attacking 8 roles in Klopp's new system, he will thrive. He'll help create a box midfield and offering in the build up phases, as well as attacking the box and creating overloads in forward areas.
Compared to other attacking mids/wingers, Szoboszlai averages 0.29 assists per 90, performs 5.09 shot creating actions per 90, attempts 55.59 passes per 90 (with an 80% completion on average), and makes 5.49 progressive passes per 90. These stats all rank in the top 80 percentile and above amongst players in his position.
These stats all match with the role Klopp will have envisioned for Szoboszlai, to progress the ball in the second phase of build up, and get Liverpool into dangerous attacking areas with his progressive passes, and ability to create shots. Szoboszlai also offers goal scoring from midfield as he has an eye for goal, averaging 2.12 shots per 90, and of course scoring 10 goals in the 2022/23 season.
ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER
Alexis Mac Allister showed for Brighton this past season his versatility in midfield, being able to play in the attacking midfield position, as well as in a midfield three, and a double pivot as shown below.
Mac Allister works hard, and covers a lot of central areas, as shown by the average position map below. Compared to other midfielders on Fbref, Mac Allister ranks in the top 99% for shots total per 90 with 2.49, Mac Allister also produces 3.31 shot creating actions per 90, performs 2.15 progressive carries per 90, and 1.31 successful take-ons per 90.
The Argentina international offers many progressive assets from midfield, with his carrying ability and passing ability (performing 5.43 progressive passes per 90). Also similar to Szoboszlai, Mac Allister has an eye for goal, after making 40 appearances for Brighton in the 2022/23 season, scoring 12 goals (6 of these goals have been via penalties) and providing 3 assists.
CONCLUSION
To conclude, the additions of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister will provide Liverpool with a breath of fresh air in midfield. Adding progression and ball retention in those attacking 8 areas.
With Klopp's new system, these two additions were perfectly chosen in order to have players capable of high quality build up play in a box midfield, as well as making progressive runs forward, and joining the attacks as part of a front 5 when advancing.
If Liverpool can sign a defensive midfielder to replace Fabinho, Klopp will have transformed the midfield in one transfer window, moving from a more traditional midfield three, to a fluid and modern look midfield in a new system being used by many of today's top coaches.
