Photo: Timmy96 / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons
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Dominik Szoboszlai said Liverpool's pre-season tour of the United States was a productive period for the squad despite the trip ending in a 4-2 defeat against Leeds United at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sunday.
"We got to know each other more and more. A couple of players came later, a couple of the guys were not even here. We got to know the manager, his staff. So, I think it was a good two weeks, with two wins and one loss. We learned a lot and we just keep on going," the Hungarian midfielder said after the match.
Liverpool, managed by Andoni Iraola, had previously beaten Sunderland and Wrexham in Nashville and New York respectively before the loss to Leeds. The squad flew back to Merseyside on Sunday evening.
Szoboszlai identified set-pieces as the key area to address after Liverpool conceded twice from dead-ball situations in the second half against Leeds. "Set-pieces – everybody has to do their job and then we're not going to concede. Actually, easy as that," he said.
The 25-year-old also noted his own readiness for the new campaign after an extended break. "I had a long holiday – unfortunately, the longest in my whole career. So, now I'm happy to be back, happy to work again. Just getting ready now and hopefully in the first game of the season I'm going to be even more at the top."
On the subject of his role under Iraola, Szoboszlai said the head coach values positional flexibility. "Last season I managed to play a lot of positions. Let's see. Hopefully he will put me in the midfield but if he needs me at right-back, happy to do that!"
Liverpool will continue pre-season preparations at home, where they will be joined by Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk, along with returning World Cup participants Alisson Becker, Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz. The Premier League season opens for Liverpool on August 23 at Newcastle United.