Temporary Armour, Not a New Position: Why Szoboszlai Must Play Right-Back — For Now

Liverpool's short-term survival has a name: Dominik Szoboszlai. With Trent Alexander‑Arnold intermittently unavailable and the right-back position demanding both attack and cover, Jürgen Klopp has leaned on Szoboszlai's intelligence and ball-carrying to plug the hole. It works as an emergency measure because he preserves Liverpool's structure and tempo in possession.

Szoboszlai's strengths are obvious — range of passing, drive into half-spaces and an uncommon calm under pressure for someone out of position. But the role of a modern Premier League right-back requires sustained one-vs-one defending, recovery pace and the muscle memory of a lifetime of overlaps, not just moments of tactical discipline. Those are traits Szoboszlai lacks relative to a specialist; they will be exposed over a season.

Tactically, Klopp is buying time and protecting Liverpool's midfield by sacrificing positional purity. Using Szoboszlai there allows the team to retain attacking width and control games against lesser opposition, and it forces opponents into uncomfortable choices. Long term, however, it warps squad balance, risks player burnout and makes recruitment decisions more urgent rather than optional.

The Guru's prescription is blunt: treat Szoboszlai at right-back as a short-term truce, not a strategic pivot. Liverpool should prioritize signing or repurposing a proper right-back in the next window and shepherd Szoboszlai back into central areas where his value compounds. Expect him back in midfield by season's end — and expect Klopp to move decisively if the club drifts without a specialist defender.