Dominik Szoboszlai showed why he's captain material despite not playing during Liverpool 2-1 Wolves - opinion
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Liverpool had to deal with the absence of star performer Dominik Szoboszlai for the first time this season during Saturday’s win over Wolves.While other big players have failed to stand up during a difficult campaign for the Reds, Szoboszlai has continually been dragging the standard up.Ultimately, Liverpool coped okay without the Hungarian, although they could have done with his energy and running ability as they tired towards the end of the game.Join our newsletter for news & smart analysis. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say After the sheer effort he has expunged so far this season, few Liverpool supporters would have blamed Szoboszlai for putting his feet up and taking the day off at home on Saturday.However, as a behind-the-scenes clip showed at the end of the 2-1 win, Liverpool’s No.
If anyone deserves a break, it is him.Nevertheless, the 25-year-old has been growing and growing in stature over the course of the season and Szoboszlai clearly felt a responsibility to be there to cheer his teammates on.Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty ImagesREAD MORE: Arne Slot suggests he’s about to unleash a secret weapon to help Liverpool destroy low blocksAs a video posted on Liverpool’s official X account showed, the Hungary captain did more than that.Standing pitchside at the final whistle, Szoboszlai greeted the Liverpool players with hugs and high fives as they headed for the dressing room.Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz all receive congratulations from the No. Photo Credit: Getty Images/Shaun Botterill/Liverpool FC 👇 Join the debate; share your insight.
Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say Milos Kerkez then attempts to sneak by his national team colleague, but Szoboszlai makes sure he doesn’t get past without a hug, dragging Kerkez back to congratulate him on another good display.Szoboszlai could be Liverpool’s next captainThere are many different ways to captain a football team, especially one as big as Liverpool, but one way is to lead by example on the pitch.When times have been tough this year, Szoboszlai has done exactly that. He has not hidden or withdrawn like some of his teammates, he has showed up and demanded to be the main man each and every game.His status as Hungary skipper and icon of the country have put him in good stead for this, but it has not always been apparent at Liverpool.This season that has changed, and if Virgil van Dijk leaves Anfield in 2027 and relinquishes the captaincy, Szoboszlai has arguably made himself the main candidate as the Dutchman’s successor.If his on-pitch contributions have made that so, then it is these more unnoticed off-field moments which cement the feeling.