Jürgen Klopp has clear winner and loser after Liverpool confirms Dominik Szoboszlai transfer

Dominik Szoboszlai is Liverpool’s newest summer transfer, but some players within Jürgen Klopp’s squad will benefit from his presence more than others at Anfield.

Dominik Szoboszlai has been confirmed as Liverpool’s newest signing of the summer transfer window. The Hungarian captain will join Alexis Mac Allister as a fresh addition to bolster the Anfield midfield department for years to come, but some players will be happier than others.

Upon inspection of the squad on Merseyside, some of Klopp’s players will benefit from Szoboszlai’s high-profile transfer more than others. There are familiar faces at Liverpool who will profit from his presence on the field, but there are other senior figures who are now likely to spend more time on the bench due to his arrival.

Ahead of the new campaign, who is the biggest winner and biggest loser in the Reds squad when it comes to Klopp adding Szoboszlai to his ranks? One player certainly stands out as a potential beneficiary in attack, but an integral presence throughout Klopp’s tenure could now be resigned to more of a backseat role.

Darwin Núñez moved to Liverpool from Benfica last year, joining for a potentially club-record $109m (£85m/€100m) transfer fee from Benfica, with add-ons included. Since his transfer, the Uruguayan striker has painted himself as different from his offensive teammates at Anfield.

Rather than playing like a wide forward in the mold of Mohamed Salah or a false nine in the mold of Roberto Firmino, Núñez hasn’t fit either of those tactical templates. He instead looks like more of a traditional poacher, almost like Erling Haaland or Fernando Torres.

For the South American to prosper next term, he needs to be allowed to almost stay away from the ball until he’s required to finish his team’s move. He is not a possession-based player like Firmino, which is why Szoboszlai should benefit him. With the Hungarian international positioned behind him as a makeshift number 10 or advanced number eight, Núñez will be free to remain in the penalty box.

The Liverpool striker creates chaos on the pitch, but Szoboszlai’s technical quality and ability to retain the ball in congested spaces in the final third should present Klopp with a weapon to absorb the anarchy that tends to follow Núñez. The new Reds signing can essentially replace elements of Firmino and by doing so, he will allow Núñez to be Núñez.

Since the beginning of April, Klopp has changed his tactics at Anfield. The Reds boss has adopted a new-look 3-2-5 shape when his team has possession under control, with Trent Alexander-Arnold drifting into midfield as an inverted full-back, allowing Jordan Henderson and Curtis Jones to push up closer to goal.

Jones has flourished since the tactical shift was made due to his attacking perks, but the same cannot be said for Henderson on the right side, who is more of a functional performer. The Liverpool skipper isn’t as suited to receiving the ball in such tight spaces before creating chances, as he’s more suited to providing defensive cover, industry and discipline in the middle third.

Henderson is one of the few options who can play on the right of midfield for the Reds — in addition to Harvey Elliott — but that spot is where Szoboszlai is likely to play. The Hungarian has spent the past two years in the Bundesliga, and he was fielded on the right for RB Leipzig last season.

Marco Rose used him as an advanced midfielder within his preferred 4-2-2-2 formation, meaning he’s benefited from ideal preparation for what lies ahead for him on English shores. Overall, Henderson will still get minutes on the field and his presence behind the scenes is still invaluable, but in terms of his role towards the end of the last campaign, that place now belongs to Klopp’s newest signing.