Liverpool's $83M star is 'pretty close' to Steven Gerrard as huge claim made

Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai has been compared to Steven Gerrard by Tony Cascarino, who has put forward a very bold question about the Hungarian midfielder

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is one of the greatest players in the club's history(Image: Kate McShane/Getty Images)

Soccer pundit Tony Cascarino has sensationally questioned whether Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai could be playing even better right now than Reds legend Steven Gerrard at his peak.

Gerrard is in the conversation for being Liverpool's best ever player, alongside the likes of Kenny Dalglish, but Cascarino has been so impressed by Szoboszlai this season, he posed the question of whether the Hungarian — albeit over a shorter period of time — might have reached the same level.

"The big standout for me is Szoboszlai," Cascarino said on talkSPORT. "How good is he in world football? He's one of the best in midfield at the moment.

"And I'm going to ask Liverpool fans this. Do they think Szoboszlai is better than Gerrard? Gerrard was an absolute star and over a longer period of time.

"But watching Szoboszlai, he's got about 12 goals this year (his goal against Brighton was his 10th) and he is on a decent run. He's a league winner last season and he had a decent season.

"Is Szoboszlai up there with the Gerrard standard? I'd love to know what Liverpool fans thought. Him and Gerrard, there isn't a lot in it.

Dominik Szoboszlai is having a great season(Image: Lewis Storey/Getty Images)

"Gerrard at 25 was amazing and he dragged the team a bit like how Szoboszlai has done this season. Liverpool did win the Champions League in 2005 and he was outstanding, maybe the best ever Liverpool midfielder.

"But I wonder how close Szoboszlai is to Gerrard. I'd love to know if there are Liverpool fans out there who would go, 'You know what...', or, 'No, he's not.'"

Szoboszlai, who cost Liverpool £60 million ($83 million) during the summer of 2023, has 17 goal contributions in total so far this season. In addition to his 10 goals, he has also provided seven assists for his teammates in all competitions.

"I think they're pretty close," Cascarino continued. "I watched him play against the Republic of Ireland. He was Hungary's best player by a country mile.

"I thought it was a shame he wasn't going to be at the World Cup, although, of course, I want Ireland to get there.

"He was so good in the game and missing him at the World Cup, he is a major star now. He's one of the best midfielders in world football, in my opinion."

Liverpool.com says: Szoboszlai is great, but to suggest he is even close to Gerrard's level is ludicrous. Gerrard was much better and for much longer, usually in a team that was considerably worse.

While there are similarities to be drawn between Gerrard and Szoboszlai in terms of style, the latter has some way to go to get to those levels.