Dominik Szoboszlai issue clear as Liverpool contract talks continue while Arne Slot gamble fails

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Ian Doyle with the main talking points from Liverpool's Premier League clash at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoonDominik Szoboszlai simply couldn’t contain his bewilderment when, with a television camera thrust into his face shortly after leaving the field, he pondered what had gone wrong yet again for Liverpool.If there’s one player who deserves more from this season, it’s the Hungary international who once more found himself the square peg in the round hole at right-back despite both Joe Gomez and Jeremie Frimpong being in the starting line-up.Being in the backline didn’t prevent Szoboszlai making the difference further upfield, adding another thumping free-kick to his collection on 18 minutes after Alexis Mac Allister had been fouled.Szoboszlai now has seven goals from outside the box in all competitions this season, the most by a Liverpool player since Luis Suarez in 2014.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageHe has also scored more direct free-kick goals in a Premier League season than any other Reds player and is one behind the overall joint record held by David Beckham and Laurent Robert.Szoboszlai, though, isn’t a right-back.

And it’s now becoming counter-productive for Arne Slot not to have his best midfielder playing where he does the most damage.You shudder to think where Liverpool would be this season without him – a point that is surely being made during ongoing contract talks. The Reds need to get that signature sharpish.Ngumoha impresses againThere were notable landmarks at opposite ends of the age spectrum for Liverpool here.For Rio Ngumoha, it was a first Premier League start which, aged 17 years 198 days, made him the club’s fifth-youngest starter in a top-flight game.By contrast, at 34 years and 250 days old, Virgil van Dijk became the oldest outfield player to start more than 30 consecutive games for Liverpool in all competitions since Ian Callaghan managed 93 in a row back in March 1977.While Slot has been keen not to overburden Ngumoha, the winger’s performance in the FA Cup win at Wolves earlier in the month made it impossible to resist his claims.The teenager did well on the left flank, thrilling Anfield with one run before half-time and becoming a more consistent threat in the second half.Slot’s decision to remove Ngumoha shortly after the hour will no doubt be questioned given what followed, but that’s more a reflection of Liverpool’s overall performance.

And, as has so often been the case for the beleaguered Reds boss this season, it ultimately backfired.Having been the man with the Midas touch for much of his debut campaign in charge, Slot appears to possess the exact opposite effect during his sophomore season.Eyebrows were raised when the Liverpool boss, no doubt with one eye on Wednesday’s Champions League return against Galatasaray, made five changes.In fairness, the calls seemed reasonable. And asking certain players to keep changing positions is starting to have a negative impact on their performance levels.The misfiring attack has long been an issue but what has been largely overlooked is Liverpool's propensity for conceding goals at Anfield in the Premier League, having now kept only four clean sheets in their last 19 such matches.And but for a fine display from the returning Alisson Becker between the sticks, this could easily have been an even more damaging afternoon.Liverpool FC Bringback collectionThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.