Dominik Szoboszlai proudly wears the number eight shirt at Liverpool and it has something to do with a former Reds captain.
Two years have passed since Dominik Szoboslzai switched RB Leipzig for Liverpool in a deal worth £60m.
The Hungarian international took the number 8 shirt, which had just been vacated by Naby Keita. However, he revealed there was no special reason for selecting the number, which has been worn by the likes of Emile Heskey and Stan Collymore.
Szoboslzai told LFCTV: “Not [for] a special reason, but of course it’s a great number.
“A lot of great players had this number.”
There is a partial reason Szoboslzai wanted his shirt number and that is because of Steven Gerrard. The 24-year-old has a tattoo of the ex-England international which includes one of his famous quotes: “Talent is a divine blessing, but without incredible will and humility, it is worth nothing.”
Szoboslzai continued: “And also I have a tattoo from Steven Gerrard, what he said – I don’t even remember when but before – so it was also a reason why.”
The attacking midfield sensation is looking to follow in the footsteps of Gerrard and he is already off to a good start.
Szoboslzai missed the 2023/24 League Cup final victory against Chelsea through injury, but still received a winners’ medal for his contributions in the earlier rounds of the tournament.
He then won the Premier League in his second season, an achievement which slipped through Gerrard’s grasp.
Arne Slot has already found Szoboslzai a useful asset this season, utilising him across different areas of the pitch based on the squad’s needs. Szoboslazi has played in his traditional number 10 role and as a deeper-lying midfielder. He has even taken up the right back position, showing how versatile he can be.
Szoboslazi’s standout moment of the season was his free kick late into Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal. He has continued to be an important player in the side, most recently completing 90 minutes as the Reds suffered a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea due to a stoppage time effort from Estevao.
