Rio Ferdinand has claimed that one Liverpool player has perhaps been overhyped for his performances since coming to the club.
Last summer, the Reds spent £60m to sign Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig (BBC Sport), with the general consensus being that the 23-year-old has been an instant success at Anfield.
He’s treated us to some breathtaking goals and shown an effervescence from midfield which has earned him comparisons with a certain Steven Gerrard, but it seems that not everyone has been blown away by the Hungarian.
Speaking on his eponymous YouTube channel, Ferdinand said of Liverpool’s number 8: “Everyone’s hyping him. I think he’s a good player but everyone’s hyping him like he’s the next Gerrard. I haven’t seen that yet. I see it in the comments; one of my mates in my group always says it.”
Of course Szoboszlai has a long way to go before matching the legacy that Gerrard left, but for him to even be compared to our legendary former captain is an indicator of how brilliantly the Hungary captain has done in his first six months at the club.
Critics like Ferdinand must have short memories of how lifeless and lethargic Liverpool were in midfield as recently as this time last year. Signings like the 23-year-old have completely changed that narrative in a relatively short space of time.
Granted, the number 8’s goal output of four in 26 appearances for the Reds leaves room for improvement, but if he begins to find the net more consistency and maintain the levels he’s shown so far at Anfield, it’s frightening to think of how high a ceiling he could reach.
You can view Ferdinand’s comments below (from 54:46), via Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE on YouTube:
Bet you wish your lot had him and not the shower you have,and by the way jota was fouled as goali admitted not like your captain last night tripping himself up!
You are right
I think Rio takes the comments that most Liverpool fans write as a literal fact… Domonik Szoboszlai will never be Steven Gerrard, Rio because he’s Hungarian, he’s 23 years old and not 43 years old and retired from playing football if you hadn’t noticed… lol 😂
Now apart from a little sarcasm their is a fact staring you right in the face Rio, turn the clocks back to 2002/3 season when Steven Gerrard was 23 years old, (This is how we Liverpool fans come to our conclusion) FACTS AND STATS below:-
Gerrard in 2002/3 played in a total of 34 games and scored 5 goals over a total time of 2,869 minutes.
Szoboszlai in 2023/4 has played in 20 games so far scored 2 goals and got 3 assists in 1,595 mins.
So already Szoboszlai has given same goal contributions in 14 less games and Stevie by 2002/3 season had already played Liverpool style football since 1996/7 season 6/7 years, Szoboszlai had never played premier league footy until this season… oh and there is loads more of them stats, possession stats are better, defensive stats are better, tackles made and completed are better.
The main thing between us fans of Liverpool and you Rio is we look at the whole picture, stats, time at club, age of player, nationality, time on the pitch vs goal contributions, time per goal contribution, tackles made and completed vs time spent in our defensive area, and the lists go on and on for me.. but by this time most people have figured out that for someone who until 2023 had never played with a Premier League team, who plays exact same position, and his stats are far far better, that he is looking like we may have our new Stevie G….
Again this is only my opinion like Rio is also only stating his opinion… have a great day everyone
Oh Rio… 7-0 7-0 7-0….. lol
He is very good player but he certainly isn’t Stevie G, not because we Love SG but his effect on the game no were enough yet. The last 4 or 5 games he has been well below average and he is still running on the good start he had. When like SG or Hendo he did it for Ten years then you compare them, not now.
Should we compare Antony to some other former Manu wingers?
Obviously he’s going to be a superstar for LFC. Rio is not an Einstein of football. Just embrace Liverpool Rio.
Rio embrace the beauty of lfc
Should we compare Antony to some other former Manu wingers?