Szoboszlai lauds Liverpool's 'intensity' under Iraola following on-field argument with teammate

The Reds finished fifth in the Premier League in 2025-26, 25 points behind winners Arsenal, after topping the table as champions in the previous campaign. It was a disappointing title defence that ultimately resulted in the departure of former boss Arne Slot, with Iraola now tasked with raising the standards at Anfield.

To that end, Szoboszlai believes the club is already showing an increased fervency in the first weeks of pre-season under Iraola, which the versatile player says is an important element for a talented squad with higher ambitions.

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"I think the intensity, what we need, it's here now," Szoboszlai told reporters in the United States, where Liverpool are currently on a pre-season tour. "What we have been missing, it's back. From the coach's side, from the players' side as well.

"So now we have to put this together with the quality of the players we have." 

Some of the intensity Szoboszlai refers to was on display during the Reds' friendly against Championship side Wrexham at Yankee Stadium in New York City on Thursday, with the midfielder and Kostas Tsimikas embroiled in an on-field argument with teammate Curtis Jones.

The trio got into a heated exchange after Liverpool's 1-0 victory, with the players seemingly in a disagreement over the captain's armband. Szoboszlai gave the armband to Tsimikas after being subbed off, seemingly setting off the row with Jones.

Despite the public nature of the disagreement, Szoboszlai downplayed the situation on Friday.

"Now that a couple of guys have left and maybe we are not the oldest [players] in the team but we've been here a long time, we are all in the same boat and we want the best for the club and for each other," he said.

"We have a captain in Virgil [van Dijk] and we will follow him everywhere with what he and the gaffer says, and I think I can talk from everybody's side that we want to be successful this season.

"It's a long-term [project] because obviously we have a new manager and the team has been changed. Maybe not in a couple of months but in the long term, I think it will work out."

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