Is Dominik Szoboszlai really Liverpool’s new Steven Gerrard?

If you haven't considered it before, you've most likely listened to it: Dominik Szoboszlai is the fresh Steven Gerrard.

This is a strong statement despite the fact that the Hungarian player has only played for Liverpool for eight games since his £60million transfer from RB Leipzig last summer. Gerrard is a beloved legend at Anfield. However, more and more people are starting to believe in this idea.

The most recent proof surfaced on Wednesday evening as Szoboszlai's explosive goal against Leicester City allowed Liverpool to move forward into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. This amazing strike was reminiscent of the exceptional style of play that Gerrard was able to produce.

Check out the picture above and you'll notice some clear similarities in the way Szoboszlai and his predecessor play. They both stand on the tip of their left foot, hunch their head down, angle their arms inward, and keep their eyes locked on the ball.

Szoboszlai dons the number 8 attire, which was famously adorned by Gerrard. Lately, the club disclosed that the jersey worn by the Hungarian footballer was the most purchased by fans this season. However, earning comparisons to a great like Gerrard requires more than just wearing a particular number, as Naby Keita had come to realize.

As a young person, Szoboszlai had a lot of respect for Gerrard as a player and it looks like he is taking after his energetic playing style. In this article, we take a closer look at whether these comparisons are accurate.

There's a lot of talk about people wanting Xabi Alonso to be their new head coach. People think he's really good at playing soccer, and he knows a lot because he's played in a lot of different teams. People also like him because he's friendly and seems like he would be easy to talk to. People think he would be really good at teaching soccer to other people.

The match held on Wednesday against Leicester may not have been a significantly important moment, although Szoboszlai's incredible goal was a truly amazing moment. His shot was so forceful that the goalkeeper, Jakub Stolarczyk, didn't stand a chance as by the time he dived, the ball was already in the net.

Gerrard was famous for his powerful shots from the corner of the pitch, like his goals against Olympiacos in the Champions League, West Ham in the FA Cup final, and many others. Szoboszlai also seems to have this ability, as he combines his impressive skills with both technique and strength, despite (or maybe because of) having relatively small feet.

The initial point that Szoboszlai scored for Liverpool in opposition to Aston Villa was also from the perimeter of the box. The technique he used was hitting the ball towards the ground, which made it travel faster and go beyond Emiliano Martinez.

Gerrard was not only skilled but also very effective in scoring goals, achieving results that would make most forward players feel proud. He successfully scored 23 goals in 2005-06, 21 in 2007-08 and 24 in 2008-09, taking into account all of the tournaments he played in. During 10 out of his 16 complete seasons for Liverpool, Gerrard's goals exceeded 10 in number.

Szoboszlai has already scored twice this season, continuing his track record from his time at RB Leipzig when he scored 10 goals in each of the previous two seasons. This skill is very valuable and can even create opportunities for teammates, as evidenced by his recent performance against Bournemouth.

Gerrard's stats were mainly boosted by his excellence in set pieces. He had an outstanding penalty record and scored several goals from free kicks. While Szoboszlai may not replace Mohamed Salah as the team's primary penalty taker, his free kicks can pose a serious threat to the opponents.

Maximizing Creativity: Skills For Passing Success

The lyrics of the tune say, "Steve Gerrard, Gerrard, he can pass the ball a distance of 40 yards."

Gerrard was a master of passing. His skill at sending the ball over long distances allowed him to quickly change from defence to attack, resulting in an impressive total of 145 assists across all the competitions he played in during his time at Liverpool.

Although Szoboszlai has not yet produced an assist for Liverpool, he has managed to generate seven chances from open play. The only player surpassing him in this aspect is Salah, who has created 14 chances.

As per fbref.com, Szoboszlai has managed to produce 30 shot-creating actions, placing him fourth on the list behind James Maddison (44), Rodri (33), and Bukayo Saka (33). These shot-creating actions refer to two offensive maneuvers that lead to a shot attempt.

When he was playing against West Ham, he almost got his first assist. He had passed a ball that was curved and perfectly weighted, which was then volleyed into the goal by Curtis Jones. However, it didn't count because Jones was just a bit offside.

The focus is on his ability to maneuver and make plays in the box, but that is just one aspect of his overall performance.

It's effortless for him to change the direction of the game. As an illustration, he identified the progressive Andy Robertson.

The defender kicked the ball to Luis Diaz, who attempted to head it towards the goal, but unfortunately missed the target and the ball went wide.

Szoboszlai is capable of creating opportunities with his accurate passes. In the match against Aston Villa, he displayed his skill by finding Luis Diaz with a forward-looking pass.

The player in a forward position passed the ball to Salah, however, the footballer from Egypt shot the ball but missed the goal.

He showcased his exceptional passing skills during the match versus Wolves by attempting a variety of passes with different distances.

There are various methods for being a leader. Some team captains express themselves vocally, while others choose to show the way by setting an example with their actions on the field. It's commonly agreed upon that Gerrard belonged to the latter group when he took over the Liverpool captaincy from Sami Hyypia at the young age of 23 in 2003.

With Jamie Carragher as the second-in-command, there was someone else to take care of lots of communication and planning, but when Gerrard spoke up, everyone paid attention. He got along well with his teammates and made sure that new players were feeling comfortable. Additionally, Gerrard maintained extremely high expectations during training.

Szoboszlai became captain of Hungary in November 2022, an honor bestowed upon him by his fellow players and national team coach Marco Rossi, despite his young age of 21. Similar to Gerrard, he embodies leadership through his actions on the field, dictating the game's rhythm and setting the tone for his team.

According to recent reports, Liverpool has found a new leader in Dominik Szoboszlai (pictured above).

During his training sessions, he has emphasized the importance of setting high expectations. As Liverpool began their pre-season training in Kirkby, a video emerged of Szoboszlai excelling in a lactate test, where players sprint at accelerating speeds until they can no longer continue. This impressive feat left Trent Alexander-Arnold astonished by his level of fitness.

Szoboszlai became a star through his impressive skills in bottle slaloms and golf balls.

Taking Charge Of Gaming

Gerrard was known for taking charge and it seems like Szoboszlai also has this quality. He has had the most touches among midfielders and forwards in four out of six Premier League games for Liverpool.

Szoboszlai is surrounded by a lot of talent, but his impact cannot be overlooked. He had the highest number of interactions with the ball among all Liverpool players during their games against West Ham (101) and Wolves (118).

The touchmap he had from the game indicates that he covered a lot of ground on the field. However, during the second half when Alexis Mac Allister was taken off, he started to play in a further back position and really dominated the game.

Likewise, he displayed his skills against West Ham in every corner of the field.

Participating is important, but the way Szoboszlai performs with the ball is equally significant. Just like Steven Gerrard, who used to spur Liverpool ahead single-handedly, Szoboszlai also possesses the power to swiftly and effectively advance his team up the field. It's a sight to behold, and people can't help but get up from their seats to cheer for his skills in the midfield.

During the match against LASK, when the outcome was still uncertain, he retrieved the ball from his own half and effortlessly flowed through the middle of the field, leaving all opponents behind and unable to catch up.

At the perfect timing, he sent a ball in Diaz's direction.

In the same way, when playing against Bournemouth, he managed to evade the first challenge and continued forward with the ball.

...surged ahead of Philip Billing...

...and produced a perilous offensive chance for his squad.

He possesses nimble footwork which makes him a danger in the penalty area. He even managed to secure a penalty for his team against Bournemouth by executing a swift change of direction. His powerful strides help him charge into the penalty area with the ball or to collect it from the center as well as from the sides.

During the game against Bournemouth, he tackled Billing and Milos Kerkez so hard that they fell to the ground in a pile.

... as he sped away from the previous and beyond the latter.

As soon as he stepped onto the field to face Leicester, he had a clear goal in mind: to secure a win for his team. His determination was evident in the way he played, and his goal was a perfect example of his commitment to victory.

The next task for Szoboszlai will be to replicate Gerrard's ability to defeat formidable and superior adversaries with ease.

Szoboszlai has already achieved this feat with his previous teams, by striking goals in RB Salzburg's victory over SC Austria Lustenau in the 2020 Austrian Cup final, as well as the 2023 DFB-Pokal Cup for Leipzig. However, it goes without saying that the challenges that lie ahead in the Premier League and European competition will be much tougher tests.

The agreement between Liverpool and Szoboszlai was influenced by Klopp's motivation, Schmadtke's contribution, and Haaland's approval. Let's take a closer look inside this deal.

Gerrard was famous for his fierce tackles and his eagerness to disrupt the opposition. However, Szoboszlai hasn't displayed the same level of powerful sliding tackles that Gerrard had become known for. Instead, Szoboszlai channels his innate aggression differently.

Szoboszlai's capability to maintain his pressing activity is truly admirable. An instance of his skill was seen during the game against West Ham in the 88th minute. Although Liverpool were confidently on their way to claiming three points, Szoboszlai didn't let that deter him from pressuring Pablo Fornals and then proceeding to follow the pass closely to disrupt Emerson Palmieri's play.

He pushed the defender to retreat and gained control of the ball.

Afterwards, he introduced Cody Gakpo onto the field, but his endeavor to make a cross got thwarted.

In the previous year, Jurgen Klopp discussed how important pressing and effort were for earning a spot on his team. Liverpool struggled in the initial half of a game against Wolves when their energy level was below par. However, Szoboszlai helped raise the intensity and speed by being a crucial factor in the team's more aggressive approach.

While Joao Gomes passed the ball to Craig Dawson, the midfielder initially applied pressure on Gomes and then shifted his focus to Dawson.

Rushing towards the defender and obstructing his try to make a pass ahead.

Sometimes, it's not just about taking the lead.

In the Premier League game against Wolves, Szoboszlai attained a remarkable speed of 36.76kph (equivalent to 22.8mph), which is the second swiftest in the league's history. This proved to be a critical juncture of the match as he had to sprint back towards his own goal to prevent a lethal opportunity from materializing.

He began the race far behind the fast Pedro Neto...

However, he managed to catch up with the winger and assisted in preventing him from taking a shot.

When Szoboszlai was written about in The Athletic before moving to Anfield, it was noted that he had a skill set that included being adaptable and able to play different positions, both in midfield and closer to the goal.

Throughout Gerrard's career, his position on the field changed depending on the coach's tactics. He played as a central midfielder, a No. 10 behind another striker, a right midfielder, and even as a deep-lying quarterback. In fact, he even played as a right-back during the 2005 Champions League final.

Szoboszlai has already been seen playing in different positions in a short amount of time. He has played as both left and right No 8 advanced midfielders. In the first game against Chelsea, he finished the game as a left winger. During the Newcastle game, he played as a right midfielder when Virgil van Dijk received a red card.

One of the most remarkable things about him is his capability to perform as a deeper player. When Alexis Mac Allister was given a red card during a match against Bournemouth, Szoboszlai took on a No 6 double pivot position alongside Wataru Endo and did exceptionally well. He used his energy and skill to help Liverpool maintain control of the game for the last 30 minutes by keeping possession of the ball.

The 22-year-old player also moved towards the rear in the second half of the match against Wolves along with Curtis Jones. He dominated the game and played a crucial role in helping Liverpool reverse the score.

Liverpool supporters shouldn't let their enthusiasm get the best of them. It's still early days for Szoboszlai on Merseyside and it's worth noting that Gerrard has been irreplaceable thus far.

Szoboszlai has had an exciting beginning and there are still plenty of great things to expect from him. Despite being just 22 years old, he will likely become even more impressive with the guidance of a manager like Klopp as he hones his skills.

Coping with the pressure of being measured against Gerrard poses a separate difficulty, but Szoboszlai appears to be a player who won't be intimidated.

(First images: Getty Images) The images displayed at the top have been obtained from Getty Images.