Szoboszlai on Gravenberch and Mac Allister: "I Love to Play with Them"

Today at 11:46 AM

Arne Slot's preferred trio in midfield has been in fine form with eight wins out of nine to start the 2024-25 season for Liverpool.

Nine games and eight wins into the Arne Slot era at Anfield, the new head coach's tactics and patterns of play and favoured personnel have increasingly taken shape, and nowhere is that as apparent perhaps as in midfield.

There, a trio with Ryan Gravenberch and Alex Mac Allister set up in the base while Dominik Szoboszlai pushes forward, often to play alongside the central striker, has become Slot's preferred set up—and the players are clearly enjoying it.

"I love to play with them," said Szoboszlai after Wednesday's 2-0 victory over Bologna in the Champions League when asked about the chance to regularly play alongside Argentine star Mac Allister and Dutch standout Gravenberch.

"The qualities that these two have—but the whole team also. Just the midfield is not enough. Of course it is important but we need everybody, and we need the whole squad because there are still 60 games to come."

In the longer run, then, it might not be the case the trio will always be the nailed on starters it currently feels as though they are. More rotation will come. Individual form and injuries too will inevitably play a role in the months to come.

For now, though, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, and Gravenberch are in stellar form—and the rest of the Liverpool squad is, too. Next up, they face Crystal Palace in what will be their final game before the October international break.

"If you take the Nottingham Forest game away then it's a perfect start," Szoboszlai added of Liverpool's season so far. "We are top of the league and we have to continue like this."