{"id":16960,"date":"2025-12-10T17:13:27","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T17:13:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/10\/as-liverpool-drama-continues-how-can-dominik-szoboszlai-step-up-to-replace-mohamed-salah-after-his-uefa-champions-league-heroics-at-inter\/"},"modified":"2025-12-10T17:13:27","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T17:13:27","slug":"as-liverpool-drama-continues-how-can-dominik-szoboszlai-step-up-to-replace-mohamed-salah-after-his-uefa-champions-league-heroics-at-inter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/10\/as-liverpool-drama-continues-how-can-dominik-szoboszlai-step-up-to-replace-mohamed-salah-after-his-uefa-champions-league-heroics-at-inter\/","title":{"rendered":"As Liverpool drama continues, how can Dominik Szoboszlai step up to replace Mohamed Salah after his UEFA Champions League heroics at Inter?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Highlights: Szoboszlai’s penalty gives Ripur narrow victory over Inter\n<\/p>\n
Video credit: TNT Sports<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Despite Liverpool’s impressive and hard-fought victory against Inter, increasing their chances of qualifying for the next stage of the UEFA Champions League, the debate surrounding the club remains dominated by stories involving Mohamed Salah.<\/div>\n
The repercussions of the player’s explosive interview following the dramatic Premier League draw with Leeds United are still being felt at Anfield and beyond, with speculation about what will happen next at the forefront of every conversation about the Premier League champions this week.<\/div>\n
If anything, football itself is a welcome distraction, despite the team’s recent disappointing form. <\/p>\n
The win against Inter was only Liverpool’s fifth in their last 15 games in all competitions, but it provides a much-needed boost amid the current turmoil.<\/p>\n
In the absence of first-choice penalty taker Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up and converted the spot-kick in the 87th minute to secure a vital three points at the San Siro and move Arne Slott’s side into the top eight in the league, at least for now.<\/p>\n
Indeed, the Hungarian has been one of Liverpool’s bright lights in what has been a dark season, with the win in Milan giving the Reds five goals in all competitions. This is the same number as Salah and Kodi Gakpo, and second only to summer signing Hugo Ekitike’s eight goals.<\/p>\n
His five assists are tied with Gakpo, who also has the same number, for the most of any member of the team this season.<\/p>\n
Liverpool Goal Contribution 2025\/26 (all competitions) GA (goals + assists) Dominik Szoboszlai 10 (5+5) Kodi Gakpo 10 (5+5) Hugo Ekitike 9 (8+1) Mohamed Salah 8 (5+3) Ryan Gravenbirch 6 (3+3)<\/p>\n
Nominally a midfielder, the 25-year-old can and has provided a creative spark from the center of the pitch.<\/p>\n
However, in Liverpool’s last three league games he has been shifted to a right-wing role, occupying the position normally occupied by Salah before the Egyptian was relegated to the bench against West Ham United, Sunderland and Leeds.<\/p>\n
Technically, two of those games were draws, but Liverpool are unbeaten through three games. In the second half, Szoboszlai himself scored what was considered the winner before the Reds conceded an equalizer in stoppage time. <\/p>\n
Apart from goals and assists, Szoboszlai’s contribution to the Reds’ attack has seen him rank as one of the team’s best chance creators.<\/p>\n
He also holds the record for the most successful pass in the opposition half other than Curtis Jones (per 90 minutes).<\/p>\n
Soboszlai ranks higher than Salah in both of these metrics.<\/p>\n
Players chances per 90 minutes (including assists) Florian Wirtz 2.50 Kodi Gakpo 2.48 Dominik Szoboszlai 2.38 Mohamed Salah 2.28 Alexis Mac Allister 0.88 Hugo Ekitike 0.86 Ryan Gravenbirch 0.81 Curtis Jones 0.45 Alexander Isaac 0.43<\/p>\n
Statistics for 2025\/26 (all competitions) – Minimum 450 minutes played as a midfielder\/forward<\/p>\n
Players Number of passes completed inside the enemy half per 90 minutes Curtis Jones 45.7 Dominik Szoboschlai 35.0 Ryan Greifenbirch 31.7 Florian Wirtz 29.0 Alexis Mac Allister 28.9 Mohamed Salah 18.4 Kodi Gakpo 18.0 Hugo Ekitike 10.7 Alexander Isak 8.0<\/p>\n
Statistics for 2025\/26 (all competitions) – Minimum 450 minutes played as a midfielder\/forward<\/p>\n
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‘It should be behind closed doors’ – Experts discuss Salah’s future after the riots<\/p>\n
Video credit: TNT Sports<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
It’s almost insane to think that this stuttering Liverpool team started the season like a house on fire, winning seven games in a row in all competitions, including five in the league.<\/p>\n
This included a win over current leaders Arsenal, with Szoboszlai scoring the winner with a stunning 30-yard free-kick for a 1-0 win.<\/div>\n
Goals aside, Szoboszlai drew praise for his overall performance, made even more impressive by the fact that he was playing in the unfamiliar right-back position, a position he played many times during this period.<\/p>\n
Far from looking out of place, he developed and won more possession than any other Liverpool defender in the games he played in his position.<\/p>\n
With Liverpool’s strategic approach allowing full-backs to come forward, he was also the main chance creator among players utilized across the backline.<\/p>\n
Possessions per 90 minutesDominik Szoboszlai 5.0Andy Robertson 4.5Conor Bradley 4.4Ibrahima Konate 3.5Milos Kerkes 3.4Virgil van Dijk 2.7<\/p>\n
Statistics for 2025\/26 (all competitions) – Minimum 450 minutes played as a defender<\/p>\n
Player chances created from open play per 90 minutes Dominik Szoboszlai 0.80 Milos Kerkes 0.75 Andy Robertson 0.61 Conor Bradley 0.57 Virgil van Dijk 0.38 Ibrahima Konate 0.26<\/p>\n
Statistics for 2025\/26 (all competitions) – Minimum 450 minutes played as a defender<\/p>\n
Liverpool needed someone to step up in Salah’s place and Szoboszlai did just that, taking on the responsibility of their unstable star against Inter.<\/p>\n
Speaking to TNT Sports afterwards, Szoboszlai insisted that Liverpool players should not be distracted by the drama of their team-mates and that their focus now is on winning games to improve their form.<\/p>\n
“That’s our job,” he said. “Performing on the pitch without thinking about what’s happening off the pitch, that’s what we did today to get the three points.<\/p>\n
“It’s not always good, it’s a roller coaster sometimes. Sometimes we lose games, sometimes we win games. And today we managed to win with penalties and a clean sheet, and that’s the most important thing.”<\/p>\n
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“That’s our job” – Szoboszlei puts aside media frenzy to get results<\/p>\n
Video credit: TNT Sports<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Realistically, no one expects him to reach the same heights as Salah in a red shirt, but Szoboszlai’s impact this year could be the antidote Liverpool need to counter the woes they are suffering and bring some semblance of calm to the chaos.<\/p>\n
That fact is further emphasized by his recognition of his personal responsibility as a club player and his desire to have a positive impact on the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI try to do my best on and off the pitch and help as much as I can,\u201d he said. \u201cThere will be some new players and probably some players who have been here a long time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s our job as a team to help each other, work harder and ultimately get those results.\u201d <\/p>\n
Stream the Premier League and UEFA Champions League live on TNT Sports and Discovery+<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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