Ex-Liverpool star wary of Dominik Szoboszlai 'alarm bells' after contract admission

Dominik Szoboszlai is eager to commit his future to Liverpool and Gary McAllister believes the Reds must act now to secure a contract extension for the influential midfielder

Dominik Szoboszlai during Liverpool's Champions League defeat to PSG at Anfield(Image: (Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images))

Gary McAllister has urged Liverpool to tie Dominik Szoboszlai down to a new deal. The Hungarian midfielder is now more than halfway through the five-year contract he agreed upon joining from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2023.

Reds midfielder Szoboszlai has made no secret of his desire to prolong his time at Anfield. McAllister, who himself arrived at Liverpool in July 2000 aged 35 from Coventry City before going on to claim a treble the following year, has called on his former side to seal the deal.

"I'm sure that as we speak, that will be something Liverpool is looking at," he said. "When you get into that realm of under two years, alarm bells should start going off a wee bit.

"But I'm sure they're in constant conversations about lengthening that because he's been a fantastic signing, and he's really grown into that shirt. He's a game-changer.

"Again, when we talk about set-pieces and dead balls, some of the free-kicks he's capable of scoring are outstanding. He's scored some belting goals along with his assists. But the thing with Szoboszlai is, he's a fantastic athlete.

"He covers some amount of ground. My advice for any player at any club is if you put in the mileage that Szoboszlai puts in, you'll always become a fan's favourite, because you're showing the fans you're going to give everything."

Szoboszlai is the frontrunner to win Liverpool's player-of-the-year award after scoring 12 goals, claiming eight assists and appearing in a variety of positions.

And McAllister, speaking via Grosvenor Casino, believes Szoboszlai has all the qualities to one day succeed Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool captain, having led by example this season.

"When he's going forward and when he's chasing back to help his back four, he's a phenomenal athlete."

"Captains come in all different styles," he said. "Virgil is very calm and very Rolls-Royce at the back. He shows a calmness, and he's not a fist-clencher or someone constantly shouting at his teammates.

Virgil van Dijk, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

"But the style of Szoboszlai makes him someone who could be a captain. He already captains his country, doesn't he?"

"And what he shows is his work rate alongside his obvious ability. The way he conducts himself on the pitch and that raw work rate should be inspirational for the people beside him. That's what makes him a possible captain for Liverpool."

McAllister's praise comes after Van Dijk himself said he sees Szoboszlai one day being Liverpool captain.

"That's all on the manager, I think. I don't know. Yeah," the Dutchman responded when asked whether Szoboszlai could eventually inherit the armband.

"Obviously he has been very good. Also a player who I think can still make the next step in terms of being a leader for this team. It starts by leading by example, and that's something he has done so far this season."

"But also everything around it; there is still progress to be made, and that's a good thing in my opinion, so hopefully he will be very important for the years to come at Liverpool."