Why Nyoni Must Start Ahead Of Szoboszlai Against Crystal Palace

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about Liverpool’s midfield ahead of Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace, and I keep coming back to the same conclusion.

Dominik Szoboszlai shouldn’t start.

I know that’s going to upset some people. I know how good he was last season, and I was delighted when Liverpool rewarded him with a new contract.

But we’re trying to win football matches here.

We’ve lost twice on the bounce, Champions League qualification is our immediate priority, and Andoni Iraola needs to select the players who give Liverpool the best chance of winning.

For me, that means Alexis Mac Allister and Trey Nyoni behind Florian Wirtz.

It’s the most balanced midfield we’ve got available, and I genuinely don’t understand why we’d move away from it.

Szoboszlai Must Earn His Liverpool Place Again

I’m getting increasingly frustrated with the idea that we somehow owe Szoboszlai a starting place because of what he achieved last season.

We don’t.

He was brilliant last year. Nobody can take that away from him. But his performances this season haven’t been good enough.

Against Fenerbahce, he got the opportunity to play in the number ten position without Wirtz starting ahead of him.

He was awful.

His body language has concerned me, he’s been too easily knocked off the ball, and I haven’t seen the physicality or influence I expect from somebody with his ability.

We’ve spent months discussing whether he’s a six, an eight, a ten or even a right-back.

At some point, that conversation becomes ridiculous.

I don’t want Iraola changing his entire system to accommodate one player.

Liverpool play with two deeper midfielders and a number ten. If Szoboszlai cannot currently perform those roles better than the alternatives, he belongs on the bench.

And please don’t confuse that with wanting him sold.

I absolutely believe he can recover his form. Mac Allister struggled last season and has come back looking much more like the player we know.

Szoboszlai deserves that opportunity too.

But he has to earn it.

Nyoni And Mac Allister Give Liverpool Better Balance

The emergence of Trey Nyoni has been one of the most encouraging developments of Liverpool’s season.

I love watching this young man play.

He’s intelligent, comfortable in possession and brave enough to demand the ball when others might hide.

Alongside Mac Allister, he gives us a midfield partnership that looks increasingly natural.

Mac Allister has been excellent this season. He’s aggressive, reads danger and understands when to move forward and when to protect the defence.

Nyoni complements him beautifully.

And with Wirtz ahead of them, we’ve got a structure that makes sense.

I’m not interested in squeezing three attacking midfielders into positions that don’t suit them simply because they’re expensive or established internationals.

We’ve already seen Liverpool win four of five matches during Szoboszlai’s absence, including the League Cup penalty shootout victory.

That doesn’t prove he’s responsible for every problem, but it certainly strengthens the argument that Liverpool can function very well without him.

If we were playing Arsenal, Barcelona or Paris Saint-Germain tomorrow, I’d still pick Mac Allister and Nyoni.

So why should Crystal Palace be any different?

Gravenberch And Liverpool’s Contract Decisions Concern Me

While I believe Szoboszlai will rediscover his form, I’m becoming much more worried about Ryan Gravenberch.

He was outstanding during our title-winning campaign, particularly in that deeper midfield position.

But last season was disappointing, and we’re now watching another campaign in which he isn’t consistently demanding a starting place.

That’s a serious concern for somebody who has been rewarded with such a substantial contract.

If Gravenberch doesn’t improve significantly between now and the summer, I’d genuinely consider selling him.

I don’t say that lightly.

But Liverpool cannot keep committing enormous wages to players who aren’t delivering.

And while we’re discussing contracts, why haven’t we sorted out Mac Allister?

He’s performing at a level that deserves recognition, and I’d be prioritising his future.

I’m also increasingly reluctant to offer immediate extensions to Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk.

Both are Liverpool legends, but their performances deserve scrutiny.

Alisson’s distribution has worried me, while Van Dijk hasn’t consistently reached the standards we’ve come to expect.

I’d wait and assess their form over the coming months.

Football clubs cannot afford to make expensive decisions based on sentiment.

Iraola Deserves Patience, Palace Demands A Response

Despite the last two results, I’m still firmly behind Iraola.

I can see improvements in Liverpool’s pressing, attacking movement and general intensity.

We’re further along than we were under Arne Slot, even if the performances remain inconsistent.

Losing to Arsenal can happen. They’re an excellent side.

Conceding three set-piece goals against Fenerbahce, however, was unacceptable.

That’s the sort of defensive weakness we have to eliminate.

Looking ahead, I’d prioritise signing a proper defensive midfielder, with Lamine Camara an attractive option, and strengthening the full-back positions.

I’d also seriously consider selling Jeremie Frimpong if Liverpool received an offer around £30 million to £35 million, provided we had adequate cover.

But those are conversations for the transfer windows.

Right now, Palace is everything.

They’re struggling, Jean-Philippe Mateta is unavailable, and Liverpool have an opportunity to respond before the international break.

Three consecutive defeats would create unnecessary pressure and undo some of the confidence we’ve been building.

I want to see Wirtz trusted in his preferred position. I want Nyoni rewarded for his performances. And I want Mac Allister anchoring a midfield that actually works.

As for Szoboszlai, I want him back at his best.

But the responsibility for making that happen belongs to him.

Nobody should be guaranteed a Liverpool shirt.

Pick the players performing today, give the manager a balanced team, and go to Crystal Palace with the intention of taking all three points.

Much Love.