From Mo Salah to Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold to Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool’s squad is chock-full of players who can claim to have become masters of their skillset.
The record-shattering Mohamed Salah should finish top of the Premier League’s scoring charts for a fourth time thanks to Erling Haaland’s potentially season-ending season. The master finisher, Salah is six goals clear of Man City’s crocked number nine.
Alisson is arguably the best goalkeeper around football in one-v-one situations. Alexander-Arnold probably the finest crosser of the ball in the game, as Van Dijk continues to set the tone for centre-halves the world over.
Dominik Szoboszlai, however, is something a little different. He doesn’t quite possess Alexis Mac Allister’s ability to dictate proceedings from the centre of the park. While blessed with a fierce strike of the ball, Alexander-Arnold is still probably the most feared talent in Liverpool ranks when lining up a shot from distance.
Szoboszlai also lacks the same balletic elegance of Ryan Gravenberch.
But while the Hungary international cannot yet be considered truly elite in any particular category, title-winning teams always need the sort of jack-of-all-trade footballers who can perform every part of their duties at a level of 7/10 or above.
Hugo Larsson would be a Dominik Szoboszlai-style signing at Liverpool
Arne Slot summed up Szoboszlai’s importance to the Liverpool cause back in January.
While his influence often goes under the neutral’s radar, Slot feels that the ‘very consistent’ Szoboszlai is absolutely integral due to his ‘underestimated work-rate’, the ‘intensity’ he brings in both his running and his duel-winning, as well as his seemingly boundless, box-to-box capabilities.
Two years after bringing Szoboszlai from Leipzig to Liverpool, meanwhile, the Premier League leaders are reportedly advancing in their pursuit of another Bundesliga battleaxe.
Liverpool have made contact with Hugo Larsson’s camp. A £59 million-rated Sweden international who, at the age of just 20, feels like a trademark sort of signing from a club with a PHD in turning potential into world-leading returns.
A few days ago, Larsson’s coach at Eintracht Frankfurt – Dino Toppmoller – told Sky Germany why the former Malmo youngster has become one of the first names on his team sheet at the Champions League-chasers.
Comments which feel eerily similar to those Slot made when praising Szoboszlai shortly after the turn of the year.
“Hugo is the classic box-to-box player who’s dynamic, likes to go forward, and is hungry to score goals,” Toppmoller said. “That’s what makes him so valuable.
“He’s very hard-working, a strong runner, always goes for the second ball, and simply plays reliably. That’s why it’s so much fun to work with him and watch him.”
Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder earns Rodri comparisons in Germany
Like Szoboszlai, Hugo Larsson is yet to become a master of any particular craft. Yet, in a team boasting so many specialists, Larsson’s ability to perform the majority of those midfield duties with typical poise and purpose could make the steely Scandinavian just as influential as his fellow Bundesliga export.
“By trade, Larsson is most comfortable at the base of midfield, protecting his defence,” the official Bundesliga website say while likening Larsson to Manchester City’s Ballon D’Or winning colossus Rodri.
“As well as an expert breaker-up-of-play, Larsson also has the technical ability to break lines and thread killer through balls.
“Larsson’s 6 foot 1 inch frame gives him great presence and his athleticism is eye-catching, underlined by his rapid turn of pace. A unique trait for a player often seen shielding those further back.
“There are shades of Rodri in Larsson’s game, while his close control and skilfulness also has notes of Rodri’s Manchester City teammate Kevin de Bruyne.”
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