Welcome to The Radar, a Sky Sports column in which Nick Wright uses a blend of data and opinion to shed light on need-to-know stories from up and down the Premier League. This week: 🔴 Szoboszlais importance to Slot⚒️ West Hams sluggish midfield💯 Haalands Man City milestone🔍 A player to watch this weekend Szoboszlais unseen workDominik Szoboszlai was the only Liverpool player not to touch the ball in the build-up to their winning goal against Newcastle but he still made the most important contribution.
Sky Sports to show 215 live PL games from this seasonGot Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺That, for me, should go down as an assist, said Thierry Henry on Monday Night Football of the dummy that allowed Mohamed Salahs cut-back to run through to the unmarked Rio Ngumoha.
It was typical of Szoboszlai in its selflessness. The 24-year-old had been pushed into midfield by that point in the game but he had spent the rest of it at right-back, called into action in a position in which he had never previously played a competitive fixture.
It was a daunting assignment in the cauldron of St James Park, up against the pace of Harvey Barnes. But the Newcastle winger was substituted in the second half having been nullified, not registering a shot or even completing a dribble up against Szoboszlai.
He was absolutely outstanding in this game, said Sky Sports Jamie Carragher. Liverpool are likely to have Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez available again against Arsenal on Sunday but Slot now knows he has another option.
Szoboszlai continues to show his worth. Florian Wirtzs arrival has increased the competition in Liverpools midfield but Szoboszlais versatility and tactical intelligence make him uniquely important. It is not unusual to see him adjusting to different roles within games, adapting to what is required.
Jurgen Klopp described him as a joy to work with and Slot feels the same way. In my opinion, he is a bit underrated, but not by me, said the Liverpool boss last season. Slot, like Klopp before him, values his tireless work-rate as well as his technical and tactical qualities.
It is not just the work he gets through but the manner in which he does it. He just keeps on running with the highest intensity, added Slot. Szoboszlai is in a league of his own on that front among Liverpool players.
According to GeniusIQ, he ranks behind only Anthony Gordon and Dominic Solanke in the Premier League for sprinting pressures since the start of last season. If there is one criticism of Szoboszlai, it is that he could contribute more in terms of end product.
But he deserved an assist for Liverpools winner on Monday, as Henry said, and the value of his unseen work out of possession cannot be underestimated. That is so important for a team that wants to compete for something, added Slot.
Szoboszlai will continue to play a vital role. West Hams glaring lack of paceNottingham Forests game against West Ham on Sunday is a meeting of two managers under pressure for different reasons. While politics threaten Nuno Espirito Santos position, results and performances are the problem for Graham Potter.
Last Fridays 5-1 thrashing by Chelsea felt like a nadir after the 3-0 loss to newly-promoted Sunderland on the opening weekend. But the situation went from bad to worse as tensions boiled over during Tuesdays Carabao Cup exit against Wolves.
Potter now takes his side to the City Ground having won fewer points than his predecessor, Julen Lopetegui, in the same number of games. Only Avram Grant has averaged fewer points per game among West Ham managers in the Premier League era.
The numbers are damning but Potter has not been helped by the clubs sluggishness in addressing long-standing issues in terms of personnel. A midfield inhibited by a glaring lack of pace continues to be bypassed by opponents all too easily.
James Ward-Prowse, Tomas Soucek and Guido Rodriguez, their midfield starters at Molineux, actually rank as some of the Premier Leagues most industrious players for distance covered. The problem is that they sit at the opposite end of the scale for speed.
It is remarkable that a Premier League sides slowest players should be concentrated in central midfield and it is only now, in the final days of the window, that the club are addressing the problem. The incoming Matheus Fernandes will instantly become one of West Hams quickest players having recorded a top speed of 35.
12 km/h for Southampton last season. Soungouto Magassa is also seen as someone who can bring some speed across the ground. But West Hams lack of pace is not limited to their midfield. Mohammed Kudus and Michail Antonio, two of their quickest attackers, have now departed, with the 33-year-old Callum Wilson, signed on a free transfer, the only attacking recruit so far.
The squads shortcomings were apparent long before this summer. The clubs recruitment is rightly under scrutiny. But their under-fire manager must get more out of what he has got too. One hundred up for HaalandErling Haaland is in line for his 100th Premier League appearance when Manchester City face Brighton on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola will hope to see him back among the goals after drawing a blank against Spurs but he will reach the milestone with a record total regardless. His tally of 87 goals from 99 appearances puts him comfortably ahead of any other player in Premier League history at the same point and underlines why so many sides have sought to add their own versions in this summers transfer window.
For Arsenal, Viktor Gyokeres is the chosen one, another low-touch No 9 to add the killer instinct they lacked. Liverpool want Alexander Isak having already added Hugo Ekitike. Manchester United and Newcastle, meanwhile, have targeted strikers with similar physical profiles to Haaland in Benjamin Sesko and Nick Woltemade.
So too, in fact, have Brighton, in Greek youngster Charalampos Kostoulas. Haaland has brought the No 9 back into fashion. Player Radar: Who else to keep an eye onPape Matar Sarr has played a starring role in Tottenhams bright start under Thomas Frank.
He is likely to be important again when they face Bournemouth on Saturday. Live Radar: Whats on Sky this weekend?Saturday Night Football sees Leeds go up against Newcastle, with coverage starting at 5pm on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event ahead of kick-off at 5.
30pm. On a packed Super Sunday, Brighton vs Manchester City, Nottingham Forest vs West Ham, Liverpool vs Arsenal and Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace are all available to watch on Sky Sports. Read last weeks Radar columnBryan Mbeumo had a night to forget against Grimsby in midweek but his running power was the focus of last weeks column.
Matt ORiley also featured as he fills the Joao Pedro role for Brighton. Sky Sports to show 215 live Premier League games this season Starting this season, Sky Sports Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games this season will be shown live on Sky Sports.
