Dominik Szoboszlai offers Liverpool future hint as Arne Slot gets what he called for

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Ian Doyle with the talking points from Liverpool's Premier League 2-0 win at home to Fulham on SaturdayIn a season of so many disappointments, few have taken the brunt of individual criticism – online, at the very least – as much as Cody Gakpo.Few would contend the Dutchman has been anywhere near as proficient as during the last few seasons when he was a regular under both Jurgen Klopp and compatriot Arne Slot.But he has made a habit of scoring against Fulham, notching three in his last five outings against the Londoners including what should have been the winner at Craven Cottage back in January.He fell short here in that regard although spearheading an attack, as is so often case under Slot, that was reliant on goal threat from out wide, this wasn’t an easy gig for Gakpo.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageAnd if his perseverance is undoubted, the quality of the Holland international was demonstrated by the manner in which he took a difficult pass from Rio Ngumoha and laid on Liverpool’s second for Mohamed Salah.There was one shot wide before Gakpo ended the game on the left flank as Alexander Isak, after 15 minutes in Paris on his comeback in midweek, got another 25 under his belt.Like Ngumoha, the Sweden striker could well have an important part to play during what remains of the season.Szoboszlai offers midfield hintIf Wednesday’s team selection was seen by some as Slot raising the white flag against Paris Saint-Germain, there could be no such accusations here.Almost all of the five changes made by the Liverpool boss were aimed at making his team more potent and consistently threatening going forward.The main intrigue, though, came in the double pivot roles in the engine room, where the Reds started without either Ryan Gravenberch or Alexis Mac Allister in a Premier League game for only the third time under Slot.The Reds lost both previous games at Chelsea and Brentford.

And with Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones hardly the most defensive-minded of midfielders, discipline would be required.That Jones departed at half-time for Gravenberch through injury will be a concern given the need for every player during the closing weeks of a tiring campaign.But Szoboszlai, having courted controversy with fans of late, will surely take confidence from a display much improved on recent outings. It could point to a future role for the Hungarian.And the greater attacking thrust all round meant Liverpool avoided registering a blank for a third successive game for the first time since February 2016.Defence steps upWhen it comes to defending, Fortress has been proving anything but for Liverpool over the past 12 months.Since the 1-0 win over Everton last April, the Reds went into this game having kept only four clean sheet in 19 home Premier League games.This, then, was a much-needed shutout after the leakiness of recent times, the first time they had stopped the opposition from scoring in the top flight at Anfield since the grim goalless draw against Leeds United on New Year’s Day.Fulham pressed hard for periods during the second half but rarely was Giorgi Mamardashvili called into action as bodies were put on the line and crosses blocked.It was the kind of ruthless defending for which Slot had called after the FA Cup drubbing at Manchester City last weekend that wasn’t overly apparent at the Parc des Princes a few days later.This victory and performance was the reaction Liverpool needed after those dismal outings.

Tuesday night, though, will be an altogether different proposition.