Liverpool have opened the 2024/25 season in perfect fashion, sitting top of the Premier League with four wins from four.
Under Arne Slot, they’ve quickly shown resilience and attacking flair, but the journey has not been without its flaws.
Three times already this season – against Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Atlético Madrid – the Reds have let two-goal leads slip, only to be rescued by late winners. The most special of all perhaps being Rio Ngumoha’s strike at St James’ Park.
That ability to find decisive moments in the dying stages has become a hallmark.
The 93rd-minute strike against Atlético was Liverpool’s fourth goal scored in stoppage time across all competitions this season, underlining the winning mentality that carried them to their second Premier League crown last season.
While Dominik Szoboszlai has been central to the team’s fluid play, it is a different player who increasingly embodies the leadership once associated with the great Steven Gerrard.
Szoboszlai: A creative hub and tactical fix
Szoboszlai’s start to the season didn’t go smoothly.
Slot publicly criticised him for his role in Bournemouth’s opening goal during the 4-2 win at Anfield on the opening weekend.
Since then, however, the 24-year-old has responded with consistent excellence and versatility.
Last season, the Hungarian produced 12 goal involvements this campaign, a reminder of his value in the final third. His numbers reflect a midfielder who drives play forward relentlessly:
|
Szoboszlai – Season 2024/25 |
|
|---|---|
|
Progressive Carries per 90 |
2.60 |
|
Progressive Passes per 90 |
4.73 |
|
Shot-Creating Actions per 90 |
4.30 |
|
Pass Completion Rate |
84.3% |
|
Progressive Passing Distance per 90 |
131.4m |
|
Source: FBRef |
|
These metrics paint a picture of a player who not only initiates attacking moves but sustains them with precision passing and clever movement.
His decisive 30-yard free-kick against Arsenal was the standout moment of Liverpool’s season so far, sealing a 1-0 win that kept their perfect record intact.
What makes Szoboszlai even more valuable is his tactical adaptability.
Against Newcastle, with Liverpool stretched at St James’ Park, he filled in at right-back and barely put a foot wrong all evening. He did the same when Arsenal came to town a few weeks ago.
This flexibility makes him a manager’s dream – a midfielder capable of influencing games both with creativity and discipline.
It’s tempting to compare Szoboszlai to Gerrard, as many pundits have, but this season he is functioning as Liverpool’s alternative to Florian Wirtz.
While Wirtz has struggled to adapt since his high-profile Premier League arrival, Szoboszlai has thrived in high-pressure situations, reinforcing why Liverpool chose him as a centrepiece in midfield.
That said, the Hungary international isn’t quite as iconic as Gerrard just yet.
Liverpool’s new Gerrard
If Szoboszlai is Liverpool’s creator, Virgil van Dijk is their leader.
At 34, the Dutchman remains a colossal presence at the back, but this season he has added moments of attacking inspiration too.
His stoppage-time winner against Atlético epitomised a player taking responsibility in decisive moments.
Football analyst Josh Williams has described Van Dijk as “outrageous” this season, adding that he “takes responsibility like Gerrard used to.”
It is rare for a centre-back to be compared with Liverpool’s most iconic midfielder, but the parallels are clear.
Just as Gerrard dragged teams through games with moments of inspiration, Van Dijk is now doing the same from defence.
Statistically, his influence remains elite and he showcased that against Atletico.
To illuminate his qualities, Van Dijk ranks in the 86th percentile among his fellow central defenders for pass completion (91.5%) over the last year, ensuring that Liverpool can build calmly from the back.
He is also in the 90th percentile for progressive passes (5.24 per 90), showing how often he breaks lines with distribution from deep.
Defensively, he dominates in the air, winning 3.02 aerial duels per 90, placing him again in the 86th percentile among centre-backs.
Statistical comparisons with Ronald Araújo and Gabriel Magalhães highlight his profile: a defender who combines physical dominance with elite ball progression.
But Van Dijk’s role extends beyond numbers. As club captain, with a contract running until 2027, he is the figure setting standards in this rejuvenating side.
Liverpool’s start has not been flawless. Throwing away leads three times already is a warning sign for a team with ambitions of another title.
Yet those setbacks have been countered by players willing to step up in decisive phases.
Szoboszlai has driven the creative rhythm with his passing and chance creation, while Van Dijk has shown the authority and timing to decide contests late on.
Together, they have shaped Liverpool’s early-season identity: a side capable of brilliance, but reliant on its big leaders to seize the big moments.
