Liverpool ace who Klopp sold is now outperforming Szoboszlai after leaving

Liverpool put paid to Arsenal’s hopes of staging a comeback in the Premier League title race after capitalising on their rivals’ shock home defeat against West Ham United by blowing Manchester City away at the Etihad.

Social media and punditry seemed to subscribe to the idea that Liverpool are the Champions Elect in February, but skipper Virgil van Dijk will no doubt have barked pragmatic orders at his teammates in the dressing room post-match. There’s football still ahead.

Still, Arne Slot’s side boast an 11-point leaad at the top of the table with as many matches to play. There’s an undeniable air of authority about this side, meeting challenge after challenge and coming out on top.

Dominik Szoboszlai is earning his flowers after his recent performances, but then the Hungarian has been one of the Reds’ unsung heroes all year.

Dominik Szoboszlai’s amazing form in 2024/25

Jurgen Klopp coordinated a comprehensive midfield rebuild in 2023, with Szoboszlai’s £60m release clause at RB Leipzig activated in July.

He ebbed and flowed last year but has been nothing short of exemplary for the Reds this year, so consistent and influential through his energy and industrious work ethic.

Having bagged a goal and an assist against fallen City, the 23-year-old raised his haul to six goals and six assists across 35 matches in all competitions. This doesn’t seem great, but direct involvements hardly tell the tale of Szoboszlai’s brilliance.

The attacking midfielder-turned-false nine was hailed as an “absolute monster” by Liverpool content creator Asim Mahmood after his performance against Pep Guardiola’s men, awarded an 8/10 match rating by The Liverpool Echo and hailed for his all-encompassing display, excelling both offensively and with ‘defensive endeavour’.

Szoboszlai’s output could improve, but he’s still an immense player.

There is, however, a former Liverpool ten who’s vastly outperforming him in front of goal this term – his name’s Xherdan Shaqiri.

Xherdan Shaqiri’s prolific season in 2024/25

Liverpool snapped Shaqiri up from Stoke City for a sharp £13.5m fee in 2018 after activating a relegation clause in the Switzerland international’s contract.

A clutch player, Shaqiri embraced his super-sub role and indeed came up trumps when whipping a delightful delivery in for Gini Wijnaldum during Liverpool’s unforgettable 4-0 victory over Barcelona in the 2018/19 Champions League semi-final, going on to lift the trophy.

He departed in 2021 taking fond memories and an appreciative fanbase’s support with him, signing for Lyon for £9.5m in 2021, marking good business from FSG.

Shaqiri – Liverpool Stats by Season (all comps)
Season	Apps (starts)	Goals	Assists
20/21	22 (7)	1	4
19/20	11 (2)	1	0
18/19	30 (15)	6	5
Stats via Transfermarkt

A footballing nomad, he wound up over the pond with Chicago Fire, and having left the MLS to re-join FC Basel last summer, Shaqiri has proved that he’s still got the knack for incisive contributions, posting ten goals and 12 assists across all competitions.

This is quite the haul, standing head and shoulders above Szoboszlai’s six goals and six assists apiece for Liverpool this term, albeit with the caveat that he’s playing at a lower level.

However, the 33-year-old is also averaging just 0.2 tackles, 0.7 dribbles and 2.4 successful duels per game in the Swiss Super League, as per Sofascore, with such underlying metrics highlighting the stark contrast that would see him drifting in the outer rim of Slot’s first-team squad.

We can all agree that while Shaqiri is plying his trade prolifically in his homeland, Liverpool wouldn’t swap him in for a player of Szoboszlai’s ilk.

In fact, given the no-frills, all-efficacy graft that the Hungarian puts in, so distinctive in his role for Slot, there’s little basis for the argument that he should be swapped out for anyone across the continent right now.