Dominik Szoboszlai has put Liverpool's problem in one place. Speaking ahead of their first Champions League game of the season, the vice-captain said the team have to bring back the intensity he thinks was missing last season, and he tied that directly to any proper title push.
Steven was alongside him at Kirkby, and Liverpool's backdrop is still heavy enough. They finished 25 points behind Arsenal, and Arne Slot lost his job after the failed defence of the Premier League crown. Szoboszlai was one of the few players to really impress at Anfield, which makes his comments feel less like generic optimism and more like a player who knows the standard Liverpool fell away from.
Intensity first, tactics second
Szoboszlai's quotes were direct enough. "I like him [Iraola], I like him a lot. I know his playing style is really direct and intense, which I love, and I think that's the most important," he said to mirror.co.uk.
He then made the central point even plainer: "I think it has to change." And when he talked about what Liverpool missed, he did not hide behind vague language. "This is what we missed last season. If we can bring this intensity back, that we want it more than the others, we have the quality, and this, together, no one can stop us."
The conviction is backed by what he has shown himself. Szoboszlai has a 7.01 season rating, has made 3 Premier League appearances and has played 270 league minutes, so he is speaking from the middle of the team rather than from the edge of it.
The role conversation around Szoboszlai
The other thread here is positional flexibility. Szoboszlai said, "I think he made it clear one time that I'm not going to play right-back," before adding that he would still be available if needed.
He also set out the role he prefers. "8 - like a box-to-box 8. Get the balls from the defender, give the long passes," he said. "But also arrive in the box, be there in the last third, shots from a little bit further. That's what I really like."
Andoni Iraola's answer was the broader squad message. "I haven't found any situation where a player has said he doesn't want to play in a position. We have discussions, but everyone wants to help," he said. He also added that injuries mean players have to be ready to switch between positions during games.
That leaves Liverpool with a fairly straightforward choice. Szoboszlai is most comfortable as a midfielder, but he is not making a fight of the issue, and Iraola is plainly asking for adaptability where the squad needs it.
Liverpool's wider context makes the warning harder to ignore. They drew their opening two games 2-2, coming from behind against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, before beating Ipswich Town for their first win. That is hardly disastrous, but it is not the start of a side that has already settled into the level Szoboszlai is demanding.
The main point remains the same. Liverpool's title talk starts with intensity, and Szoboszlai has already said the standard has to rise before anything else will follow.
FAQ
Why is Dominik Szoboszlai talking about Liverpool's intensity?
Szoboszlai says Liverpool missed intensity last season and that it has to change if they are to challenge properly. He also said the team have the quality to make a renewed push, and pointed to a direct, intense style that he likes.
What role does Dominik Szoboszlai want at Liverpool?
He said he wants to play as a box-to-box 8 and that the only position he really did not like was the 7. He also said he would be available elsewhere if needed, while Iraola stressed that injuries can require players to switch positions.
How did Liverpool's latest league season compare with Arsenal's?
Liverpool finished 5th in the 2025 Premier League, while Arsenal finished 1st. Szoboszlai framed that gap as part of the backdrop to Liverpool's renewed push, but the article also notes that current-season standings are not being used here.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
