Liverpool had to deal with the absence of star performer Dominik Szoboszlai for the first time this season during Saturday’s win over Wolves.
While other big players have failed to stand up during a difficult campaign for the Reds, Szoboszlai has continually been dragging the standard up.
Ultimately, Liverpool coped okay without the Hungarian, although they could have done with his energy and running ability as they tired towards the end of the game.
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Mateus Mane of Wolves runs at Milos Kerkez with the ball during Wolverhampton Wanderers' Premier League match against Liverpool at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Jan Kruger).
Photo Credit: Jan Kruger/Getty Images
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After the sheer effort he has expunged so far this season, few Liverpool supporters would have blamed Szoboszlai for putting his feet up and taking the day off at home on Saturday.
However, as a behind-the-scenes clip showed at the end of the 2-1 win, Liverpool’s No. 8 was very much a part of the matchday routine. Quietly, Szoboszlai once again underlined his candidacy to be the Reds’ next captain.
Dominik Szoboszlai congratulates victorious Liverpool
With a new baby at home, Szoboszlai did not have to be at Anfield to watch Liverpool take on Wolves two days after Christmas. If anyone deserves a break, it is him.
Nevertheless, the 25-year-old has been growing and growing in stature over the course of the season and Szoboszlai clearly felt a responsibility to be there to cheer his teammates on.
Dominik Szoboszlai applauds fans after Liverpool's Premier League win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images
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As a video posted on Liverpool’s official X account showed, the Hungary captain did more than that.
Standing pitchside at the final whistle, Szoboszlai greeted the Liverpool players with hugs and high fives as they headed for the dressing room.
Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz all receive congratulations from the No. 8, before Jeremie Frimpong gets a special embrace.
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Dominik Szoboszlai in action during Liverpool's Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Shaun Botterill). Alexis Mac Allister applauds fans at Anfield during Liverpool's pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao (Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Shaun Botterill/Liverpool FC
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Milos Kerkez then attempts to sneak by his national team colleague, but Szoboszlai makes sure he doesn’t get past without a hug, dragging Kerkez back to congratulate him on another good display.
Szoboszlai could be Liverpool’s next captain
There are many different ways to captain a football team, especially one as big as Liverpool, but one way is to lead by example on the pitch.
When times have been tough this year, Szoboszlai has done exactly that. He has not hidden or withdrawn like some of his teammates, he has showed up and demanded to be the main man each and every game.
His status as Hungary skipper and icon of the country have put him in good stead for this, but it has not always been apparent at Liverpool.
This season that has changed, and if Virgil van Dijk leaves Anfield in 2027 and relinquishes the captaincy, Szoboszlai has arguably made himself the main candidate as the Dutchman’s successor.
If his on-pitch contributions have made that so, then it is these more unnoticed off-field moments which cement the feeling.
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