Dominik Szoboszlai has really come into his own over the last season or so, with the Hungary international becoming one of Liverpool’s best-performing midfielders
Dominik Szoboszlai built a solid connection with Mohamed Salah during the 2024/25 season. The Hungarian midfielder didn’t just create chances—he chipped in with some goals too and quickly became a regular part of Liverpool’s attack.
But now, with Liverpool bringing in Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for £116 million, things are starting to get a bit complicated. Both players naturally operate as number 10s, and it’s not exactly clear how Arne Slot plans to use them both in the same team.
What might sting a bit more for Szoboszlai isn’t just the arrival of Wirtz, but something more unexpected—Slot has reportedly scrapped the famous pre-season lactate test.
For years, that test was a big deal at Liverpool. James Milner dominated it season after season, and it became a badge of honor for the fittest players in the squad. Szoboszlai had also been topping that test since he arrived in 2023. It was a simple but satisfying way to show his fitness levels and set the tone for the season.
According to Liverpool ECHO, Slot has changed things up. Instead of the usual intense run-and-measure format, players now just jog laps around the pitch, and then blood samples are taken afterward. No more competitive edge, no more clear winner.
For Szoboszlai, who thrives on proving himself physically, it’s probably a bit frustrating. He’s now got a major challenge ahead—Wirtz is younger, full of potential, and clearly a big part of Liverpool’s future plans. So every little edge mattered, including something as small as winning a fitness test.
With competition heating up, Szoboszlai will have to dig deep to make sure he doesn’t end up benched or pushed into a less familiar role.