Liverpool beat Athletic Bilbao twice at Anfield on Monday as they rounded off their pre-season programme.

The Reds are in good shape as they head to Wembley to play the Community Shield on Sunday.

Arne Slot gave his full Liverpool squad a run-out during two separate games, with plenty of positives to take away.

Hugo Ekitike gave a promising account of himself on his first outing at Anfield, while Florian Wirtz was his usual silky self.

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But while the new signings garnered most of the attention, there were a few of the old guard at Liverpool who stood out as well.

Watching on for LFCTV, former Reds player Ray Houghton picked out Dominik Szoboszlai‘s performance as one that will have really caught Slot’s attention.

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With Florian Wirtz arriving to fill Liverpool’s most advanced midfield position, Szoboszlai had been seen as the player who could potentially miss out.

However, the Hungarian has been excellent in pre-season, cementing himself as one of the first names on Slot’s teamsheet.

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And according to Houghton, Szoboszlai has made himself virtually undroppable ahead of the new season.

“Gravenberch I thought grew into the game as it went on, but Szoboszlai was the one,” he said.

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“For someone under a little pressure for his position, I think he showcased what he is about and that he’s up for the fight of retaining his position week in, week out.

The manager will be thinking ‘I might not be able to leave this man out'”

Although Szoboszlai is clearly a hugely important figure for Liverpool, it is not a given that he plays every game.

With Wirtz joining, there is only really room for two more besides the German.

Last season, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch were phenomenal in Liverpool’s two deeper-lying positions.

But with Szoboszlai now vying for a space of his own, one may miss out.

Mac Allister is potentially at a disadvantage in that he has missed a big chunk of pre-season.

He will largely play.

As for Gravenberch, he was deservedly voted as the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season.

The Dutchman is also another vital part of this Liverpool team.

So, Szoboszlai may be doing well for the time being, but he still has a battle on his hands this season.