Liverpool seems to be climbing out of the slump the team fell into over the past month. After losing four consecutive Premier League games between 27 September and 25 October, the Reds finally defeated Aston Villa at home on 1 November and went on to secure a win over Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday. There seems to be broad agreement among fans and experts on the reason behind the team’s ‘resurrection’: Dominik Szoboszlai.
While the season so far may not be Liverpool’s best as a team, it is undoubtedly one of the finest for the Hungarian midfielder—or right back, as Arne Slot has often deployed him. Even as Liverpool struggled through October, Szoboszlai displayed extraordinary enthusiasm, work rate, and determination in nearly every match he played—even in those ending in devastating or embarrassing losses for the Reds. Combined with his exceptional vision on the pitch, unique shooting technique, and precise key passes, Szoboszlai has quickly become the driving force behind a struggling Liverpool.
That is reflected not only in his ratings—even the strict Sofascore awarded him a 9.1 after the 3–2 loss against Brentford and a 7.28 average for the season—but also in the way teammates and fans talk about him. After the 1–0 win against Real Madrid on Tuesday, captain Virgil van Dijk said that ‘Dom is very important’ for the team. ‘The energy he brings on the pitch is incredible. The quality that he has is outstanding. He’s learning in each and every game. He’s developing into the player that we all feel like he could be, and he’s showing it for his country as well,’ van Dijk added. ‘He just needs to keep doing it for the rest of the season. So far, he’s had a great start to the season. Now he just needs to keep going, keep his head down and keep performing well,’ he concluded.
Fans and experts have been talking about Szoboszlai in superlatives lately, comparing him to Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard—whose iconic No. 8 shirt he now wears. ‘We really are Dominik Szoboszlai FC right now,’ analyst Sam McGuire wrote on X after the 2–0 victory against Aston Villa over the weekend. Szoboszlai received a 9 rating from Liverpool Echo for that game. ‘Dominik Szoboszlai is the heartbeat of this team. Everything goes through him. Dictates the game and is everywhere on the pitch. Phenomenal footballer,’ user Samuel praised on X.
Against Real Madrid, Szoboszlai delivered a brilliant assist to Mac Allister that sealed the 1–0 result. With that, the Hungarian now has three assists in the current Champions League season—more than any other player. Szoboszlai also earned a place in ESPN’s Premier League Top 50, ranking eighth overall.
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