Dominik Szoboszlai’s first 50 games for Liverpool compared to Steven Gerrard

Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai isn’t burdened by the premature label of being called the “next Steven Gerrard”.

The current number eight of the club shrugged off comparisons, stating, “I don’t want to be him. I want to be myself.” Nevertheless, Liverpool’s legendary figure has clearly influenced the young Hungarian midfielder.

A quote attributed to Gerrard is permanently inked on Szoboszlai’s forearm: “Talent is a blessing from God, but without incredible will and humility, it is worthless.”

Szoboszlai has exhibited his remarkable talent in his initial games at Liverpool, drawing favorable comparisons to Gerrard’s early career at the club. Here’s a comparison of the two dynamic midfielders in their first 50 matches for Liverpool.

One key difference between Szoboszlai and Gerrard is their tendency to take long-range shots. Two-thirds of Szoboszlai’s attempts are from outside the box, with half of his eight goals coming from long-distance strikes.

In contrast, Gerrard, known for his spectacular goals, had only scored two goals from inside the penalty box in his first 50 Liverpool games. His first goal was a memorable solo effort against Sheffield Wednesday in December 1999.

By the end of Gerrard’s debut season in the first team, he was already being hailed as a future star. Teammate Sami Hyypia predicted that Gerrard would become the “best player in England” someday.