In early November, Liverpool have been flying excessive on the high of the Premier League, however Arne Slot performed city title claims, saying there could be “many challenges to come back.”
There have been at that, however Liverpool have performed like champions, have received in several methods, and strategy the ultimate stretch with a seven-point benefit over injury-hit Arsenal.
Liverpool and Slot have benefitted from the brilliance of superstars comparable to Mohamed Salah – whose return this season has been nothing in need of ridiculous – however the Dutch coach’s magic might be discovered within the enhancements to gamers like Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch.
Purpose Involvement Leaders 24/25 (Europe’s high 5 leagues) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Rank | Participant | Video games | G/A |
1. | Mohamed Salah | 25 | 37 |
2. | Harry Kane | 20 | 29 |
3. | Omar Marmoush | 20 | 28 |
4. | Mateo Retegui | 23 | 23 |
5. | Robert Lewandowski | 23 | 22 |
Stats by way of Transfermarkt | |||
The Dutchmen have been integral components of the multi-title cost, however in Dominik Szoboszlai, the Reds maybe have an unsung hero who has made each bit the enhancements as such friends.
He is even been in comparison with Steven Gerrard…
Dominik Szoboszlai’s Gerrard comparisons
Szoboszlai, the thumping coronary heart of Slot’s Liverpool group.
There’s an adage in soccer, attributed to Sergio Busquets: “You watch the sport, you do not see Busquets. You watch Busquets, you see the entire sport.”
Now, now – Szoboszlai is hardly Barcelona’s iconic anchor man, however the identical rule applies. He won’t chalk up the numbers, however the 23-year-old’s relentless operating and midfield completeness serve a definite function at Anfield.
A function, maybe, that would not be replicated by anybody else. On this method, he has been likened to a former all-action midfielder named Gerrard.
Talking on BBC Radio 5 Dwell, pundit Stephen Warnock stated this: “The lengthy legs and the stride sample, Dominik Szoboszlai has such similarities to Steven Gerrard.”
Massive declare, however one which has substance. As per FBref, the Hungary skipper ranks among the many high 8% of Premier League positional friends for touches, the highest 7% for go completion and the highest 17% for progressive passes per 90.
A go is taken into account progressive if the gap between the start line and the following contact is no less than 10 meters nearer to the opponent’s purpose or any accomplished go into the penalty space.
Szoboszlai’s bought a number of high quality, however he is not Gerrard. Gerrard encapsulated each side of the sport, one thing actually distinctive.
He may simply, nonetheless, have lastly discovered his successor in Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool’s new Steven Gerrard
There could really feel like a notable omission right here: Jordan Henderson. To not the discredit of the previous Anfield skipper, however Van Dijk’s management qualities merged with real elite-class technical items make him a extra apt new model of the historic Liverpudlian.
Jurgen Klopp pushed to signal Southampton’s star centre-back throughout the 2017 summer season switch window however failed. Liverpool returned. In January 2018, a world file (for a defender) £75m deal was finalised for Van Dijk’s switch.
The remaining is historical past. Van Dijk has lifted all the most important prizes over 304 appearances and completed so with the panache of a world-class sensation. Actually, pundit Michael Owen has even gone so far as to hail him as “the best centre-back of all time.”
He’s now the Netherlands and Liverpool captain and chasing down a second Premier League title. Van Dijk can be into the Carabao Cup ultimate having scored the profitable purpose in final yr’s version whereas main a Liverpool group who topped the group part of Europe’s elite membership competitors.
The myriad components of the 33-year-old’s soccer converge to current a once-in-a-generation footballer. It is for that reason that he’s shaping into Liverpool’s subsequent Stevie G, having been hailed as a “monster” of a participant by reporter DaveOCKOP.
Gerrard made his Liverpool debut in 1998 and went on to characteristic 710 occasions for Liverpool, scoring 186 targets and supplying 157 assists. Ian Callaghan and Jamie Carragher are the one Reds to have earned extra appearances for the Merseysiders.
Extensively thought-about one of many best midfielders of his technology, Gerrard has been heralded by fellow execs, managers and pundits alike, and it will take a fairly particular Liverpool participant to imagine his function in all its completeness.
Combative as a six, cultured as an eight and devastating as a ten, the previous England captain was a person of many components, and the sum of these components was one thing better nonetheless.
Van Dijk has what it takes to be seen in an identical mild for a few years to come back. Each gamers may very well be recognized by their unbelievable composure and guile, with Liverpool’s present captain consistently barking at his teammates, urging them on and demanding excellence.
One other hanging similarity is the pairs’ steadfast presence by completely different phases. Van Dijk has been partnered with Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, Dejan Lovren and Ibrahima Konate by completely different intervals of his Liverpool profession.
Likewise, Gerrard was Anfield’s celebrity for greater than a decade, servicing Michael Owen, Peter Crouch, Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez over so a few years.
By the beginning of the 2025/26 season, Van Dijk will likely be 34 years outdated. Nonetheless, he is exhibiting little signal of regression, together with his longevity an additional measure of his Gerrard-esque skill.
Whether or not he will likely be a Liverpool participant at that time is open to query, nevertheless it’s patent that followers close to and much would enjoyment of witnessing his contract renewal.
Followers are keen to show to the summer season switch window of 2023 because the sliding doorways second that has fostered a group able to profitable the most important prizes this season.
Park that thought. Van Dijk is the chief, the architect, and can go down as one of many best gamers in Liverpool’s historical past. Gerrard’s (nearly) career-long affiliation with Liverpool signifies that his legacy is almost unsurpassable, however Van Dijk is each bit nearly as good.
Klopp was requested about Van Dijk’s legacy, as soon as. “I may write a guide,” he replied.
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