Dominik Szoboszlai is due for a well-deserved rest after starring for Liverpool in the first half of the season. The Austrian midfielder made an impression at Anfield, but his form has dipped recently, increasing concerns that he may require a brief break to replenish his batteries.

Only Mohamed Salah has played more minutes for the Reds this season than Szoboszlai. The 23-year-old has played in 18 of Liverpool’s 19 matches this season, totaling 1,314 minutes on the field.

These figures are very impressive for a new signing in his first season in the Premier League. There is a clear difference in intensity between English and German football, where Szoboszlai previously played for Red Bull Leipzig, as the midfielder has previously stated.

“The intensity is crazy,” he said earlier this month. “You have to run a lot and not only a lot but fast. You have to defend too because you know that every time the opposition has a chance in this league, the quality is so high that they can score.”

Szboslai is scheduled to be rested for Liverpool’s Europa League match against LASK Linz on Thursday. He has not started any of Liverpool’s past four European games. Szoboslai may benefit from a similar rest from the starting XI in the Premier League ahead of what should be a brace of relatively easy games against Fulham and Sheffield United.

After all, the Reds will need him to be at his best for forthcoming games against Manchester United, Arsenal, and Newcastle.