Liverpool fans have always believed that their club has a unique gift when it comes to producing or reinventing right-backs. For decades, the position at Anfield has carried a certain weight, a certain magic, and a certain expectation. From the rugged days of Steve Finnan to the modern artistry of Trent Alexander-Arnold, the right side of Liverpool’s defence has often been home to some of the most iconic figures in the team. But few could have predicted what is happening right now. Because as the 2025/26 season begins to take shape, Liverpool may have just discovered, or perhaps engineered, the best right-back in world football — and it’s not who anyone expected.
Dominik Szoboszlai, signed as a midfielder, celebrated as a creative hub, and deployed for most of his career as a No10 or box-to-box dynamo, is now being hailed as Liverpool’s “new right-back.” And the astonishing part? He looks like the best in the world at it. Yes, the best. Better than the likes of Achraf Hakimi, better than João Cancelo, and even more effective right now than the former Anfield darling himself, Trent Alexander-Arnold.
To understand how shocking and thrilling this evolution has been, you have to go back to where the conversation about right-backs began for Liverpool fans this season. For years, Alexander-Arnold was considered untouchable. He was hailed as a generational player, a local lad who had turned the right-back role into a position of artistry. His ability to dictate games with his passing, his set-piece delivery, and his range was unmatched. By the end of the 2023/24 season, many regarded him as the best right-back in the world. But football, like life, moves quickly.
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When Trent left for Real Madrid, a new chapter began. At the Santiago Bernabéu, he was supposed to elevate his game, but instead, he found himself struggling. Xabi Alonso’s tactical structure, while brilliant in many ways, hasn’t allowed Alexander-Arnold the same freedom he enjoyed at Anfield. In Spain, his defensive weaknesses have been magnified, and his attacking strengths have been stifled. Suddenly, the man once considered Liverpool’s crown jewel is battling for relevance in Madrid, his reputation dented and his aura dimmed.
And so, the question emerged: who is the best right-back now? Hakimi, with his Champions League medal at PSG, has a case. Others like Reece James or Kyle Walker could throw their names into the ring. But Liverpool, almost quietly, have created an answer of their own — and it came in the most unexpected way.
It wasn’t Jeremie Frimpong, despite his blistering pace and attacking flair. It wasn’t Conor Bradley, despite his resilience and potential. Both were tipped to step into Alexander-Arnold’s shoes, but neither has been able to fully convince. Instead, Arne Slot, never afraid of bold experiments, threw Szoboszlai into the role. At first, it seemed like a stop-gap solution, a tactical tweak to cover an immediate need. But the Hungarian has thrived there so completely that now it looks less like an experiment and more like destiny.
He has faced Arsenal, Newcastle United, Burnley, and Crystal Palace — four sides with dangerous wingers who thrive on exploiting full-backs. And Szoboszlai hasn’t faltered once. Not once. In fact, he’s been among Liverpool’s best players in those fixtures, shutting down attacks, launching moves, and looking like a natural-born full-back despite never being groomed for the role.
The numbers tell the story just as clearly as the eye test. Szoboszlai ranks second only to Virgil van Dijk for passes into the final third, proving his ability to progress the ball under pressure. He leads the team in progressive passes, showing he is dictating attacks from deep areas. He ranks second in shot-creating actions, behind only Salah, while also topping the charts for tackles and interceptions. He has more recoveries than anyone else in the squad. In short, he is combining defensive solidity with attacking creativity in a way that few full-backs in history have managed.
It’s not just about the stats though. Watch him play, and you see the full package. He has the intelligence to know when to drive forward and when to hold back. He can carry the ball with grace, pick out incisive passes, and still find the energy to track back and win duels. This is a midfielder’s brain operating in a full-back’s body — and it is devastatingly effective.
For Liverpool fans, it feels almost poetic. Just when the world thought they had lost their grip on the right-back crown after Alexander-Arnold’s departure, they’ve gone and produced another phenomenon. Only this time, it wasn’t through the academy but through reinvention. Szoboszlai has rewritten the expectations of what a full-back can be.
There is, of course, the looming question of whether this is permanent. Is Szoboszlai destined to spend the rest of his Liverpool career at right-back, or is this just a temporary solution that is working too well to abandon? For now, the answer seems obvious. Why change something that is working so brilliantly? As long as he continues to dominate in this role, there is no reason to move him. He has made it his own, and in doing so, he has given Liverpool an identity refresh on the right side of defence.
This evolution also reflects well on Arne Slot. The Dutchman came into Liverpool with huge expectations and the difficult task of replacing Jurgen Klopp. Early critics wondered if he had the boldness to make big calls, but shifting Szoboszlai into a completely new role shows vision and courage. It’s a decision that could define the first year of his reign, a decision that might even change how the football world views full-backs going forward.
For Szoboszlai himself, this is a career-defining moment. Signed from RB Leipzig for his creativity and energy in midfield, he has instead found himself being hailed as the best right-back in world football. That’s not a downgrade, but rather a rebrand — and it may elevate his career to new heights. To dominate in a position that isn’t even your natural one is a mark of genius, and he is showing that genius week after week.
Liverpool supporters, never shy of celebrating their heroes, have already begun to embrace the idea. They sing his name louder, they talk about his contributions endlessly, and they know that once again, their club may have changed the landscape of modern football. Because while others search desperately for the perfect right-back, Liverpool have simply created one from within their own squad.
When you step back and look at the bigger picture, it’s extraordinary. Within just a few months, Szoboszlai has gone from being one of many midfield stars to the most important cog in a new-look Liverpool machine. He is not only plugging a gap left by a departing legend, but he is also redefining what the role can mean for the team. That is why many are now confidently saying: Liverpool’s new right-back is the best in the world.
And maybe the most frightening part for opponents is this — he is only getting started.