In what is a welcome deviation from domestic form, Liverpool have been one of the top sides in the Champions League this season.
With one game left to play, the Reds are on the precipice of automatic qualification to the last 16.
Liverpool must get past Qarabag to avoid adding an extra two play-off ties to an already-congested schedule.
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Will Liverpool beat Qarabag and qualify for the last-16?
The Azerbaijani's have a poor record against English teams
Qarabag players line up for a squad picture before their UEFA Champions League match against Ajax at Tofiq Bahramov Stadium (Credit: Getty Images/Resul Rehimov/Anadolu).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Resul Rehimov/Anadolu
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Then, we reach the business end of the Champions League, where one player is sure to have a massive impact judging by his staggering league phase form.
Dominik Szoboszlai bettered only by Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane in the Champions League
It should come as little surprise to hear that the Hungarian is playing well in Europe.
Szoboszlai is Liverpool’s best player this season, and one of the rare sources of encouragement in a bleak enough club environment.
He’s not just standing out amongst his teammates, though.
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As per FotMob, Szoboszlai’s average match rating in the Champions League (8.12) is only bettered by Harry Kane (8.15) and Kylian Mbappe (8.88). He has four goals and three assists in seven league phase appearances — both team-highs.
Those two are favourites for this year’s Ballon d’Or, and Szoboszlai is performing at their level right now. His attacking output has come on leaps and bounds, but he also offers so much to Arne Slot’s side with his unrelenting running and impact further back the pitch.
Just another sign of how good the 25-year-old really is.
Dominik Szoboszlai keeps on matching Florian Wirtz
The dynamic between Florian Wirtz and Szoboszlai has shifted significantly since the German’s arrival.
It was initially thought that the two would be at odds for minutes, but they are steadily making the case to be the first two names on the team sheet now.
We already knew of Wirtz’s proficiency in Europe. He won five Player of the Match awards last season — the most of any player — and his skillset is ideal for the open, unpredictable nature of Champions League football.
You can only start one vs Qarabag: Florian Wirtz or Dominik Szoboszlai? đź‘€
Wirtz was instrumental in Leverkusen’s 5-1 win over tonight’s opponents 🤯
Florian Wirtz
Photo by Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images
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Now, Szoboszlai is showing just how much he can raise his level in the prestigious competition.
The pair are still young, but already look like becoming fixtures of this Liverpool side for years to come.
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