That group is of course Red Bull, and the two clubs in question are Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig. Szoboszlai is the quintessential Red Bull product, who came through the ranks at Salzburg and then moved on to RB Leipzig before joining Liverpool. He also represents why Klopp likes to purchase Red Bull-based players.
Szoboszlai’s work rate and pressing ability are thanks to the many years he spent in Red Bull’s system learning the two sides’ gegenpressing style, which is very similar to the principles employed by Klopp at Anfield. That is why it’s no surprise that Szoboszlai has not been the only Red Bull player to have been signed by Liverpool over the years. The first player to have honed his skills at Red Bull to end up at Anfield was Sadio Mané. The Senegalese winger was signed by Klopp from Southampton, but he was actually spotted by the German when Mané was still playing for Salzburg and the Liverpool boss was working at Borussia Dortmund.
Then came Naby Keïta, who unfortunately didn’t quite fulfill the exciting potential with which he arrived. He was followed by Takumi Minamino, arriving after an exquisite performance at Anfield, and then Ibrahima Konaté was signed from RB Leipzig, becoming the last player from Red Bull to arrive before Szoboszlai came along.
The relationship between the two sides is clearly a strong one. Liverpool trusted RB Leipzig enough to send Fábio Carvalho there on loan during the summer, and it seems the two sides are always open to doing business. That may come in handy as the Reds could now be looking to sign another Red Bull-based player. According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Liverpool is looking at Loïs Openda, who scored twice against Manchester City in the Champions League this week and who has been in great form since arriving at RB Leipzig. In 12 games in the Bundesliga, Openda has nine goals and three assists, while he also has four goals in five games in the Champions League.
And his performance at the Etihad on Tuesday certainly had people talking, not least Pep Guardiola, who was left questioning his usually reliable team. “I was not sure. The way we played in the first half I was not sure,” he said afterward.
“The first half was not [good] even some moments in the second half. There are moments you have to be better. We will learn hopefully.” A really fast and intelligent forward, Openda presses well, and he is the kind of explosive, high-intensity forward who would definitely fit into Klopp’s plans and style of play. The Reds are spoilt for choice in the attack at the moment, but things can change fast in the world of football, and the summer was proof of that.
With the way Openda destroyed Manchester City this week, and the kind of form he is in, he would absolutely be an ideal addition for the Reds, and a worthy next Red Bull transfer after Szoboszlai.
Over the last few years, Jürgen Klopp has signed more players from one club than anyone else, or rather two sets of clubs belonging to the same group. His latest addition was Dominik Szoboszlai during the summer.
