Liverpool star names his preferred position ahead of the new seasonDominik Szoboszlai Assesses Liverpool USA Tour as Andoni Iraola’s Side Build Towards New SeasonDominik Szoboszlai has offered a clear-eyed assessment of Liverpool’s pre-season work in the United States when speaking to liverpoolfc.com, describing the trip as “a good two weeks” as Andoni Iraola continues to shape his squad ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.Liverpool wrapped up their USA tour with a 4-2 defeat to Leeds United at Soldier Field in Chicago, a result that followed earlier wins over Sunderland and Wrexham. While the final outing brought issues into focus, particularly from set-pieces, the overriding feeling from inside the camp appears to be one of progress, adaptation and preparation.Szoboszlai’s verdict reflected that wider picture. “We got to know each other more and more,” he said. “A couple of players came later, a couple of the guys were not even here. We got to know the manager, his staff. So, I think it was a good two weeks, with two wins and one loss. We learned a lot and we just keep on going.”USA tour gives Iraola valuable early insightFor Liverpool, this summer has been about more than results. Iraola is still embedding ideas, assessing relationships across the squad and dealing with a staggered return of senior players. That context matters when judging both performances and output.Szoboszlai acknowledged that the Leeds game exposed shortcomings, but his reading of the tour remained balanced. “You always have to look on the positive side, even if it’s negative a little bit,” he said. “I know today wasn’t the best game we played since the manager came. Obviously, we have played only three games. I think in the first half we controlled the whole game, leading 2-0. At the end, losing 4-2 – we just move on.”Photo: IMAGOThat line captures where Liverpool are at this stage. There have been promising spells, there has been visible experimentation, and there have also been reminders that time on the training pitch is still needed before the Premier League opener away at Newcastle United on August 23.Set-pieces emerge as major Liverpool concernIf one theme stood out from Szoboszlai’s post-match comments, it was Liverpool’s vulnerability from dead-ball situations. The midfielder did not avoid the issue, instead making it the central lesson from Chicago.“Now, we know we conceded two goals from set-pieces. We have to take care more at them,” he said. “Obviously, last season was a season as well where everything started to be really important – corners, long throw-ins – so we really have to take care of it, because I think the next season is going to be the same like last season.”That is likely to be one of Iraola’s priorities over the next phase of pre-season. Margins remain fine at the top end of English football, and Liverpool know that organisation at corners, throw-ins and second balls can decide matches. Szoboszlai simp
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