Liverpool head coach Arne Slot issues WARNING to Dominik Szoboszlai

Arne Slot has challenged midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai to increase his attacking numbers this season, as the Liverpool head coach seeks to bounce back from his first defeat at the weekend.

A number of players played poorly in Liverpool's 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at Anfield – Szoboszlai included – with misplaced passes and poor decisions ultimately leading to defeat in a game fans expected the Reds to dominate.

Szoboszlai has started all of Slot's four games in charge so far this season, with the Hungarian midfielder emerging as a key figure for the new manager both on and off the ball.

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However, Slot has now challenged Szoboszlai to score and assist more goals ahead of his side's clash with AC Milan in the Champions League.

"He has been important for us and his pressing has been outstanding," said Slot of the Hungarian's performances so far this season.

"Something we have to work on is making him even more involved in scoring goals. He scored three last season but for an attacking midfielder at Liverpool, his numbers need to go up. I am confident with the quality he has and the players around him he will score more goals as well."

Szoboszlai's new attacking role

Under Jürgen Klopp, Szoboszlai was often used as the right-sided central midfielder in a 4-3-3 formation, where he was encouraged to create attacking triangles with Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold when Liverpool had the ball.

Klopp's midfield operated in a different way to how Slot wants the team to play, with the new manager preferring a double pivot of two deeper midfielders with an attacking number ten pushing forward in front of them.

Szoboszlai has been deployed by Slot as that attacking midfielder so far this season, and the early signs have been good as the Hungarian has been part of a number of impressive attacking displays.

Before he joined Liverpool, Szoboszlai was known for his powerful shot and ability to score spectacular goals from outside the box.

In the five seasons before last year, he reached double figures for goal involvements in every single one. While he's shown glimpses of the quality that convinced Liverpool to spend £60m on him last season, he's yet to truly shine.

With Harvey Elliott – Slot's preferred backup for the number 10 role – out injured with a fractured foot, it looks like Szoboszlai will get plenty of chances to improve his output over the coming weeks.