Rio Ferdinand has played down the impact of Liverpool star Dominic Szoboszlai despite the Hungarian side’s fast start at Anfield. Szoboszlai, 23, joined RB Leipzig from Jurgen Klopp last summer. The new No.8 was one of four midfielders to move to Merseyside this summer, alongside Alexis McAllister, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch, as Liverpool deal with the loss of stars such as Fabinho and Jordan Henderson.
It was a very good thing for the Reds, who sit three points clear at the top of the Premier League after 20 games. In that game, Szoboszlai was rated for his overall performance, scoring 2 points and dishing out 2 assists. But Ferdinand is not so sure. The former England and Manchester United defender has not seen enough of Szoboszlai to justify the level of praise he has received from fans, despite liking some of what he has seen.
I know everyone hypnotizes him, but I don’t think Dominic Soboszlai did it (as people say),” Ferdinand said on Vibe with Five on YouTube. “He’s a good player but people say, ‘Oh, he’s the next [Stephen] Gerrard!’” says I haven’t seen him yet.“I don’t really look at their (fans’) comments. But a friend in our group always says that. But it’s visually stunning.”Ferdinand was impressed by Grevenberch’s impact as Liverpool knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup and insisted Endo is fine. As for Soboszlai, he seems to think the praise is a little premature.
In addition to his two league goals, Szoboszlai also scored twice in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup semi-final win and also impressed in the club’s quarter-final win over West Ham. However, his injury will prevent Klopp’s side from adding to their tally in the first leg of their semi-final against Fulham on Wednesday. “Muscle, tendon,” Klopp said of the injury ahead of Sunday’s trip to Arsenal. “We will have to see.
