Among Dominik Szoboszlai’s collection of tattoos, there is a quote from Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, written in the 24-year-old’s native Hungarian, on his left arm.
It translates as: “God gives you talent but if you don’t work and sacrifice a lot it will mean nothing.”
Szoboszlai was still a teenager, trying to make the grade at Red Bull Salzburg, when he had it done. He struck a deal with his father Zsolt that he could have the tattoo if he finished top of all the fitness tests in pre-season with the Austrian side and he duly delivered.
How those words continue to resonate for the dynamic midfielder, who lit up Anfield during Thursday’s 4-0 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur, which booked holders Liverpool a Carabao Cup final date with Newcastle United at Wembley on March 16.
Szoboszlai has blossomed into a vital cog in new head coach Arne Slot’s machine.
In possession, he’s their fourth attacker with his intelligent movement and eye for a pass. Without the ball, he chases lost causes and never allows opponents to settle. His athleticism is an asset in the No 10 role — the perfect link player with quality combined with stamina and a steely work ethic.
Rewind to September, when Slot threw down the gauntlet to Szobosozlai before the Champions League game away to Milan.
“Something that we have to work on with him is that he’s also even more involved in scoring goals and creating chances for us,” Slot said. “For an attacking midfielder at Liverpool, his numbers need to go up.”
Szoboszlai’s debut season at Anfield, following a £60million ($74.8m at the current exchange rate) move from RB Leipzig in summer 2023, had been a mixed bag. He got off to a flyer but comparisons with Gerrard after inheriting the No 8 shirt worn with such distinction by the club icon proved premature as he faded badly and ended up on the bench for the latter stages of Jurgen Klopp’s reign.
Since Slot took over last summer however, he has been rejuvenated. He has already equalled his tally of four assists last season and is two shy of his total of seven goals after scoring Liverpool’s third last night. He has five goal involvements in his past eight starts.
His shift against Tottenham was Gerrard-esque.
He had five shots, nine touches in the opposition box, created five chances, won possession nine times and scored. No Liverpool player has recorded those numbers in a match since Philippe Coutinho in a 7-0 rout of Slovenian minnows Maribor in the Champions League in 2017. Szoboszlai also won all his three tackles and completed 36 of his 40 passes (90 per cent).
His fifth goal of the season was beautifully worked, with substitute Alexis Mac Allister picking out the underlapping Conor Bradley, who fed it to the Hungary captain just outside the box. He controlled with his left and then ruthlessly swept the ball into the bottom corner with his right. Szoboszlai jumped for joy in front of the Kop before being mobbed by his team-mates.
A brilliant move finished by Szobo 👏 pic.twitter.com/gRjLrjCpnO
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 6, 2025
Szoboszlai has spoken about doing the “dirty job for the team” this season and that was evident in the part he played in Cody Gakpo’s opener, which cancelled out Lucas Bergvall’s winner from the first leg.
His tireless tracking back contributed to Yves Bissouma panicking and playing the loose pass, which coughed up possession to Ryan Gravenberch. Nine seconds later, Gakpo was hammering home his 16th goal of the season. The Netherlands attacker has now scored in seven successive home appearances.
Either side of Szoboszlai making it 3-0 on 75 minutes, Mohamed Salah converted from the penalty spot and captain Virgil van Dijk scored at Anfield for the first time in two weeks shy of a year.
“Credit to Liverpool. They were way too good for us. We never got to grips with the game, either with or without the ball,” said Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou.
Key to the home side’s complete dominance was the control exerted by a perfectly balanced midfield.
Szoboszlai was complemented by the elegant Gravenberch, who completed 50 of his 54 passes (93 per cent) and won five of his seven duels (71 per cent). Curtis Jones, who was replaced by Mac Allister with 18 minutes to go, won four out of five tackles and completed 51 of his 54 passes (94 per cent).
The manner in which that department of the squad was extensively rebuilt in the summer of 2023 has become a pivotal part of Klopp’s legacy.
Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Wataru Endo were signed for a combined £145million, with £52m recouped from the exits of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Good fortune played a part, given that Liverpool pursued Chelsea’s Mason Mount, who opted to join Manchester United, before they signed Szoboszlai. There are no regrets about that on Merseyside.
Slot has harnessed the talent he inherited from Klopp and taken this team to the next level. They have relished seeing more of the ball in the Dutchman’s more patient, possession-based approach.
“Pleasant,” was Slot’s succinct assessment of reaching the first major final as Liverpool coach.
“If you know me a little bit, you know my thoughts are more on Sunday already (away to Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup’s fourth round) rather than thinking about a final in a month.
How bottle slaloms and golf balls turned Szoboszlai into a star
“Our performance pleased me most. Reaching a final should always be special, even for this club. We are in this business to play finals. We know how difficult the final is going to be, because we’ve faced Newcastle already (a 3-3 draw at St James’ Park in early December) and they were very impressive yesterday (in completing a 4-0 aggregate win against Arsenal).”
Last season, winning the Carabao Cup final in such dramatic fashion against Chelsea proved to be a false dawn for Liverpool as their challenges subsequently wilted in the other three competitions. There is good reason to believe things will be different this time around.
Slot is 90 minutes away from lifting the first trophy of his Anfield reign.
This is a team capable of landing significantly more illustrious prizes than the Carabao Cup, especially when you have Szoboszlai hitting these heights.
(Top photo: Szoboszlai after scoring in front of the Kop. Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
