Former Liverpool star Gary McAllister is urging the Reds to secure a new contract for Dominik Szoboszlai, with his current Anfield deal set to expire during the summer of 2028.
The narrative of Liverpool’s season has largely been defined by a lack of rhythm among the senior ranks, a factor that has played a significant role in their descent to fourth place. Yet, while the veterans have stuttered, midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has remained remarkably composed.
Under the tactical guidance of Arne Slot, the Hungarian midfielder has defied the team’s downward trend, consistently delivering high-level performances even as those around him have drifted in and out of form
To date, the Hungarian playmaker has racked up an impressive 12 goals and nine assists across 49 appearances in all competitions. His reliability has been so total that Arne Slot has even deployed the versatile number eight at right-back on occasion, trusting his tactical intelligence to fill gaps wherever the team needs him most.
He has been classy all campaign long, with the dependable 25-year-old at the heart of the action again, when he delivered an inch-perfect corner kick at the death for Virgil Van Dijk to connect with, to hand the Reds a joyous last-gasp 2-1 win in the Merseyside Derby.
Yet, despite his importance being widely recognised, now, there has been a lack of developments in recent times over whether the ex-RB Leipzig midfielder will pen an extended deal or not, at Anfield, which has left the aforementioned McAllister feeling restless.
“Alarm bells should start going off” – McAllister urges Liverpool to tie Szoboszlai down
Entering into the final two years of his deal, the worry will be that the 25-year-old will end up being another high-profile departure from Anfield like Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, with the iconic duo both walking away from Merseyside in the next few weeks.
There does seem to be some positive news on the contract front, as the Hungarian has stated that he sees himself staying at the Premier League giants for the “long term.”
But, with no contract talks whirring into motion at the moment, the “alarm bells should start going off”, according to McAllister, with 2028 not that far away, in the grand scheme of things.
Speaking via Grosvenor Casino, the now-retired Scotsman stated: “I’m sure that as we speak, that will be something Liverpool is looking at.
“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.”
Indeed, Szoboszlai has been a constant bright spark for Liverpool this season, when their fortunes have been so topsy-turvy, with the number eight able to solidify his reputation as a modern-day great at Anfield, if he were to pen a new contract.
Szoboszlai is already a Liverpool great
It’s clear, at this late point in the season, that the one-time Premier League title winner is a frontrunner for Liverpool’s player of the season accolade, with his 12 goals in all competitions, only bettered by the injury-stricken Hugo Ekitike.
Moreover, as McAllister puts it, the lively number eight is willing to battle and fight for the Liverpool badge, wherever he’s thrown into Slot’s starting XI.
He affirmed his status as a Liverpool great in the modern age when collecting the Reds’ player of the month award for March, with that accolade, his stunning fifth player of the month win this season alone.
This means he has joined the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Mohamed Salah in being handed this individual honour five or more times in a single campaign.
Collecting seven individual honours in total now, too, the underrated Hungarian has surpassed Sadio Mane’s own weighty collection of six, who is another revered servant of the Reds.
The reasons why Liverpool must tie Szoboszlai down to a new contract sooner, rather than later, are overflowing now, with McAllister’s impassioned cries hopefully answered imminently.
