Our Liverpool FC jury has been discussing the importance of Dominik Szoboszlai and how to handle rumours of Real Madrid interest.
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Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates after scoring Liverpool's second goal in the FA Cup against Brighton
Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates after scoring Liverpool's second goal in the FA Cup against Brighton(Image: Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
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Liverpool fans were reminded of the star quality of one of their most influential players last Saturday as Dominik Szoboszlai returned to the first team and also the scoresheet.
The Hungary captain has arguably been the Reds' standout player so far this season, performing superbly in several positions when called upon and scoring some memorable goals, in particular two mesmerising free kicks against Arsenal and Manchester City.
At the start of the season, it was unclear whether Arne Slot would have a space in the starting XI for him, but the 25-year-old quickly established himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet with his consistently high performance levels.
Szoboszlai has been showered with praise this term, but with that comes admiring glances from other clubs and rumours have started to surface around potential interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid. Liverpool fans are all too aware of the problems that can arise when Los Blancos come knocking for a player.
Now, our LFC jury has had their say on Liverpool's No. 8 and what should happen next.
Andrew Cullen
Szoboszlai looks like he on the road to stardom. Stardom often brings admiring eyes, and in Liverpool’s case, those eyes are often from the Spanish giants, who, in the long grass, wait.
In a team that has sometimes lacked composure this year, Szoboszlai has been composed, and in a team that has lacked star quality, he has shone.
It is vital for the club, the players, and the fans that we keep our top talent. We saw last summer a lack of player loyalty. To build title-winning teams you need loyalty. The Szoboszlai / Madrid rumours sound like, for the moment at least, whimsical bluster, rather than anything of concrete substance. If Szoboszlai continues to impress, though, it feels inevitable, doesn’t it, that the big European clubs will at least come calling?
The club probably don’t deserve to be praised or blamed for their transfer activity this season; it is too early to judge. It has been a turbulent season with mistakes and lapses and errors, but we have seen passages of exciting, dynamic, skilful play.
After an indifferent start to his Liverpool career, Wirtz has started to come out of his shell. Kerkez too has started to show glimpses of his ability, and Ekitike's performances have been striking. It will be another big, important transfer window for the Reds this summer; let’s hope Szoboszlai is not on the outgoing list.
James Noble
Dominik Szoboszlai emphatically rifling home Liverpool’s second, to fittingly round off that most flowing of team moves, represented the high-point of Saturday’s 3-0 FA Cup win over Brighton & Hove Albion.
“We rely on him so much this season. He’s one of the best players in the world right now," said Mohamed Salah in his post-match praise of Szoboszlai. It was Salah's sublimely weighted volley that teed up the 25-year-old for his goal against the Seagualls. The Egyptian's comments spoke volumes and felt on the money.
What a figurehead, what a driving force, he’s been for the often-struggling Reds this term. 10 goals, including four brilliant, and distinct, free-kicks, standout showings in several roles, relentless running on and off the ball, a brilliant range of passing, we could go on.
Unsurprisingly, that’s seen focus on his future intensify – both in terms of the possibility of him taking on the LFC captaincy at some stage, and the importance of extending his contract beyond 2028, particularly in light of increasing links to Real Madrid. Off-field proactivity, and continuing to improve on the field, ought to only strengthen the possibility of sharing a positive and prolonged future.
Arguably, one of the most promising features of last week’s two victories was how they hinted at the team’s increasing roundedness. Winning in Szoboszlai’s suspension-induced absence at Sunderland, and then stylishly overcoming the Seagulls without goal involvements from either Florian Wirtz or Hugo Ekitiké, spoke of a certain durability.