Liverpool followers are in dreamland. Early-season pace-setting was met with loads of scepticism from rivals and maybe sure inward segments. Wait till Liverpool play somebody good, rivals appeared to titter.
How about now? Most would say that it is too early to dream of lifting the Premier League title in Might – however what’s soccer if not a platform for permitting such giddy heights to creep into your thoughts?
Arne Slot has been good, completely good. The sharp-witted Dutchman has allowed Liverpool’s vastly proficient squad to unfold its wings and attain new heights, with victories over Actual Madrid and Manchester Metropolis lastly silencing the doubters who lay in look forward to such opponents to place the Reds to the sword.
How about now? Liverpool are flying, 9 factors away from Arsenal and Chelsea, tied collectively in second, whereas Pep Guardiola‘s battered super-team have ceded additional floor at Anfield and now path by 11 depressing factors.
Liverpool’s finest performers vs Man Metropolis
Slot has sculpted Liverpool into an all-consuming profitable machine, and with every passing fixture, the hopes of rivals that Liverpool will falter fade. On Merseyside, the furore swells.
So many house gamers impressed towards Metropolis, who’re horribly out of types however nonetheless pose a devastating risk, ought to they odor blood.
Solely, possibilities have been in brief provide towards a redoubtable Liverpool backline. Even with Ibrahima Konate sidelined, Virgil van Dijk‘s brilliance proved an excessive amount of for Erling Haaland and Co, with Joe Gomez proving invaluable as soon as once more, stepping in and dynamically fusing together with his captain.
Reward for Mohamed Salah, whose goal-and-assist show has taken his haul to 13 targets and 11 assists throughout 20 matches in all competitions underneath Slot’s wing. He is moderately good, that one.
Prize-winning performances from all angles, however a good portion of credit score have to be positioned at Dominik Szoboszlai‘s toes. The Hungary captain was mesmerising in his dogged and profitable makes an attempt to overwhelm Metropolis, who’ve gained the previous 4 league titles in a row.
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Dominik Szoboszlai’s tireless efficiency
He is confronted detractors all through the 2024/25 season for his meagre charge of objective contributions, however regardless of this, Szoboszlai is showcasing high quality of the very best commonplace.
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Dominik Szoboszlai – Stats vs Man Metropolis in 2024 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Match Stats |
||
|
Minutes performed |
61′ |
90′ |
|
Objectives |
0 |
0 |
|
Assists |
0 |
0 |
|
Touches |
37 |
71 |
|
Pictures (heading in the right direction) |
3 (1) |
3 (2) |
|
Correct passes |
18/27 (67%) |
47/57 (82%) |
|
Key passes |
1 |
4 |
|
Dribbles (accomplished) |
0 (0) |
1 (0) |
|
Tackles + interceptions |
0 |
2 |
|
Whole duels (gained) |
2 (2) |
6 (4) |
|
Stats through Sofascore |
||
Szoboszlai is approaching leaps and bounds; do not be deceived by his lack of prolificness. The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle awarded the Hungarian with a 9/10 match score, writing: ‘Set the tempo early on with wonderful urgent, intercepting Metropolis passes and used ball swiftly and precisely and acquired off a couple of pictures too. Second half tougher however was working tougher than most in closing phases.’
Final season, when Liverpool drew with Metropolis as they fought for the title, Szoboszlai was handed a 6/10 score, together with his efforts to steer the press failing.
Liverpool swarmed Metropolis like a nest of hornets within the opening section, rewarded by Gakpo’s objective. Szoboszlai was the life pressure, making essentially the most ball recoveries (seven) and being hailed for placing in “one in all his finest performances” by journalist Bence Bocsak.
He misplaced the ball 13 occasions however this was solely within the pursuit of playmaking success. It paid off, with 4 key passes reinforcing his efforts.
The superlatives rolled in. Reporter Keifer MacDonald hailed the attacking midfielder for being “flawless as soon as once more” whereas a Hungarian journalist even claimed that he seemed like a “one-man band” underneath the Anfield lights, supercharging Liverpool’s attacking success.
Szoboszlai is stepping up. Manchester Metropolis, Arsenal and Chelsea, Liverpool’s closest title rivals, all carry elite-level quantity tens in Kevin De Bruyne, Martin Odegaard and Cole Palmer, and now the 23-year-old is proving that he’s shaping right into a celebrity of an analogous ilk.
He is in the identical ballpark for positive, with FBref’s participant comparability mannequin rating Odegaard as one in all his most comparable gamers, for instance. The Norwegian is “undoubtedly a £100m plus participant” – in keeping with journalist Paul Brown – which solely highlights the extent that Liverpool’s energetic ace may but attain.
Clearly, the Arsenal skipper is working at a superior degree, all issues thought-about, however Szoboszlai is making headway alright, and will now bloom right into a £100m participant and tirelessly drive the Redmen towards a affluent future.
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100% duels gained: 8/10 Liverpool star simply outshone Gakpo & Salah
Liverpool thrashed Manchester Metropolis within the Premier League to assert a nine-point benefit on the summit.
