Steven Gerrard backed Dominik Szoboszlai to succeed in ‘one other level’ and earn ‘world-class’ status after Liverpool’s Champions League win over Marseille.
Szoboszlai’s superb free-kick gave Liverpool the lead over Marseille on the stroke of half-time in Wednesday’s European clash in France.
An own goal from Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli and Cody Gakpo’s injury-time strike saw Liverpool run out 3-0 winners and climb to fourth within the Champions League standings with one group game remaining.
Anfield legend Gerrard singled out Szoboszlai for praise after Liverpool’s impressive win and insisted the Hungary international can reach ‘one other level’ if he keeps his ego in check.
Szoboszlai has been a largely consistent performer for Liverpool since his £60m move from RB Leipzig in 2023, making over 100 appearances for the Reds and helping Arne Slot win the Premier League last season.
The 25-year-old had endured a frustrating couple of weeks before the Marseille win, nonetheless, gifting Barnsley a goal in Liverpool’s FA Cup win after which missing a penalty in Saturday’s draw with relegation-battlers Burnley.
‘If he stays humble and keeps working at his game and dealing in the fitting way, he can get to a different level,’ Gerrard, one in all Liverpool’s biggest ever players, said on TNT Sports.
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‘He needs to maintain wanting to develop and grow and improve, since you never stop at whatever age, you’ll be able to all the time recover.
‘I believe the talent is there, and I believe he’ll have the fitting people around him to go again, to develop into an excellent higher midfielder.
‘You simply got to remain a little bit bit humble, since the last couple of weeks, there’s been a little bit little bit of ego creeping in with the back heel six yards out and smashing the penalty.
‘I believe there’s a world-class level there for him. I believe he has shown in certain games this season that he’s able to that, and that is essentially the most consistent I’ve seen him.
‘I really like watching him, stuffed with energy, great out of possession. It would be a shame if he doesn’t go and push himself to the following level. I believe it’s there for him.’
Liverpool’s win in France means their Champions League destiny is in their very own hands ahead of next week’s final group game against Qarabag.
Assessing his side’s victory over Marseille, Anfield boss Slot said: ‘It might have been a difficult place to go and it is due to their fans but in addition due to their players and manager.
‘We needed to be superb today and we were. We were very positive on the ball. We scored three and everybody will probably be more positive than once we create five possibilities but rating one.
‘Within the last 13 games unbeaten, we’ve only been 54 minutes behind. We had many earlier possibilities to win it today. Today, we probably deserve what we got. We weren’t unlucky like we’ve been so over and over this season.
‘I do know why we’re not consistent and that is principally to do when a game is open, it is totally different than playing against a low block.
‘You can’t compare that with the sport tonight when each teams need to press and play out from the back. If we’re inconsistent, it’s because we struggle with low blocks.’
On the importance of going straight into the knockout stages and avoiding two play-off ties, Slot added: ‘People can see what a squad we now have.
‘We now have three players out with injuries and we already don’t have the dimensions of squad that our competitors have, so it’s vital we don’t play these games.’
Liverpool put their Champions League aspirations on hold this weekend as they return to domestic motion against Bournemouth.
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