Dominik Szoboszlai etched his name into the club’s recent history on Wednesday night with a moment of pure intelligence, scoring a stunning free-kick just before half-time to give Liverpool the lead against Marseille.
The Hungarian midfielder became the first Liverpool player since Trent Alexander-Arnold to score more than one direct free-kick in a season, netting from a dead-ball situation at the Stade Velodrome.
The goal was a masterclass in tactical awareness. Realizing that Marseille’s walls were prone to jumping, Szoboszlai did not choose the traditional wall-top attack.
Instead, he fired a low, forceful shot directly under the lunging defender, catching goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli completely by surprise.
The clever free-kick followed up on his stunning 30-yard winner against Arsenal earlier this season and cemented his reputation as the club’s new set-piece specialist.
Szoboszlai stepped up to fill Trent’s void.
Szoboszlai’s rise as a set-piece specialist is even more significant given Trent Alexander-Arnold’s move to Real Madrid last summer.
For years, Liverpool have relied almost exclusively on the Scouser’s right foot to untangle stubborn defenses from set-pieces.
Since taking over the mantle, Szoboszlai has not only filled the void. He definitely made the role his own.
His results this season have been nothing short of amazing, with Marseille’s attack taking his Champions League record to four goals and three assists in just seven games.
With seven goals and five assists in all competitions, he provided the creative force that Arne Slott’s side desperately needed in the post-Trento era.
Comparisons with Steven Gerrard are growing.
Beyond statistics, it’s the way Szoboszlai performs that has fans comparing him to the legendary Steven Gerrard.
Wearing the iconic No. 8 jersey, the 25-year-old possesses the same blend of tireless energy, leadership and long-range shooting that defined the former captain’s career.
These comparisons have been given added weight by Gerrard himself recently admitting that he sees elements of his own game in Szoboszlai, but the praise carries huge significance at Anfield.
