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Beth Lindop
Multiple Authors
Mohamed Salah hailed his teammate Dominik Szoboszlai as “one of the best players in the world” after Szoboszlai scored in Liverpool‘s 3-0 win against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Szoboszlai scored the second goal for Liverpool, helping the team advance to the fifth round of the FA Cup. This marked his tenth goal of the season, putting him on track to surpass his personal best of 12 goals achieved while playing for RB Leipzig during the 2019-20 campaign.
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When asked about Liverpool’s chances in the FA Cup this year, Salah remarked to TNT Sports: “It will depend on his [Szoboszlai’s] performances. He is currently one of the best players in the world, which bodes well for the team. I hope we can achieve this again.”
“I’m pleased we won today. It was crucial for our confidence.”
Szoboszlai has emerged as a key player for Liverpool this season and is being considered as a potential future captain, succeeding Virgil van Dijk.
In a recent press conference, head coach Arne Slot was asked if the 25-year-old has what it takes to be a leader in the squad. He responded: “Absolutely, but he’s still young. He possesses many qualities already, especially in terms of leading by example.”
“However, he still has a way to go in terms of vocal leadership compared to someone like Virgil, which is completely understandable. Virgil is 34 years old and has learned from great leaders such as [James] Milner and [Jordan] Henderson. It’s beneficial for Dominik to observe Virgil, and with time, I believe he will grow into that vocal role.”
“Overall, he possesses numerous attributes that can make him an influential player for Liverpool, and you could very well consider that a type of leadership.”
Szoboszlai is currently in his third season at Anfield after making the switch from Bundesliga’s RB Leipzig.
“Dominik exemplifies the model we follow at this club,” Slot added. “We recruit young talent from other leagues; in this case, Leipzig. While he was already recognized as a strong player, I can confidently say that he has greatly improved since arriving here two-and-a-half years ago.”
“This trajectory of growth can be expected for other players we bring in from different leagues as they settle into the squad and gain experience.”
Szoboszlai’s goal on Saturday marked his fifth in the last eight matches, showcasing his growing prowess as he struck a powerful shot into the net.
“I strive to give my best in every match, and when the opportunity arises to shoot, I make the call to take it. Sometimes it goes well and hits the target,” Szoboszlai told ESPN. “I just want to keep this momentum going.”