Dominik Szoboszlai etched his title into the membership’s current historical past on Wednesday evening with a second of pure intelligence, scoring a surprising free-kick simply earlier than half-time to present Liverpool the lead in opposition to Marseille.
The Hungarian midfielder grew to become the primary Liverpool participant since Trent Alexander-Arnold to attain a couple of direct free-kick in a season, netting from a dead-ball scenario on the Stade Velodrome.
The aim was a masterclass in tactical consciousness. Realizing that Marseille’s partitions had been susceptible to leaping, Szoboszlai didn’t select the normal wall-top assault.
As a substitute, he fired a low, forceful shot straight beneath the lunging defender, catching goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli utterly unexpectedly.
The intelligent free-kick adopted up on his beautiful 30-yard winner in opposition to Arsenal earlier this season and cemented his status because the membership’s new set-piece specialist.
Szoboszlai stepped as much as fill Trent’s void.
Szoboszlai’s rise as a set-piece specialist is much more important given Trent Alexander-Arnold’s transfer to Actual Madrid final summer season.
For years, Liverpool have relied virtually completely on the Scouser’s proper foot to untangle cussed defenses from set-pieces.
Since taking on the mantle, Szoboszlai has not solely stuffed the void. He undoubtedly made the function his personal.
His outcomes this season have been nothing wanting wonderful, with Marseille’s assault taking his Champions League document to 4 objectives and three assists in simply seven video games.
With seven objectives and 5 assists in all competitions, he supplied the inventive pressure that Arne Slott’s aspect desperately wanted within the post-Trento period.
Comparisons with Steven Gerrard are rising.
Past statistics, it is the best way Szoboszlai performs that has followers evaluating him to the legendary Steven Gerrard.
Sporting the enduring No. 8 jersey, the 25-year-old possesses the identical mix of tireless vitality, management and long-range taking pictures that outlined the previous captain’s profession.
These comparisons have been given added weight by Gerrard himself lately admitting that he sees components of his personal sport in Szoboszlai, however the reward carries big significance at Anfield.
