12 July 2023 , 14:54
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Trent Alexander-Arnold was left stunned by Dominik Szoboszlai's fitness as the pre-season tests began.
The Hungarian is Liverpool's most expensive summer signing thus far, arriving from RB Leipzig for £60m. He will help re-energise the club's midfield, which was cited as a weakness last season, and has already shown he has quite the engine on him.
A host of the Liverpool squad recently reported back after their summer breaks with Szoboszlai and Alexander-Arnold rocking up at the same time. They were instructed to do a fitness test - known as the lactate test - which involves continuous running, gradually upping the pace until it was completed or they could go no more, with blood samples taken to assess certain readings.
The group began together but as the test went on Szoboszlai pulled away from the group. Once they had all finished and were recovering, Alexander-Arnold found out about his new team-mate's endurance and his face told the story as the Hungarian made quite the impression.
Fellow new boy Alexis Mac Allister also took part in the test as did the likes of Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz. Alexander-Arnold could find himself playing alongside Szoboszlai in midfield with the right-back potentially pushing further up the pitch, and he is relishing the opportunity.
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He told Sky Sports : "[They're] top players. "I think it's exciting for the club and exciting for the team. It is always exciting when we sign new players to see how they come in and how they adapt and what they're like. I'm sure they already know, they can see from the outside we're a welcoming side and a welcoming team.
Dominik Szoboszlai was impressive in the early fitness tests (Liverpool FC)"It's a good dressing room. Come in, do your work and get results. That's all we ask of players; it's to buy into what we do and buy into the plan and be willing to work hard and sacrifice for the team. I'm sure the lads will do it and on top of that they're two technically excellent players who can receive the ball and play with the ball. For players like me who enjoy passing the ball, they're dream players ahead of me."
Szoboszlai will add plenty of creativity to the Liverpool midfield, which will aid their raft of attacking talent. The Hungarian himself stated he could play "box to box" which is backed up by his impressive early performances in the pre-season tests.
He told the club's website : "To be honest, for me it doesn’t matter – I want to be on the pitch. But of course everybody has their own position. Of course, attacking midfielder as a 10, I can play on both 10s, left, right, on the sides also. Just I want to play. I’m a player who can play box to box; quite fast but not the fastest as I see the players here. I have quite a good shot. But I’m not only me, it’s the team, so I’m looking forward [to that]."