Steven Gerrard has already given the strongest possible endorsement of Dominik Szoboszlai. He said the midfielder has “a potential captain in there” because of his consistency and mentality, while Liverpool have reached an agreement in principle on a new contract, with only final details and formalities remaining.

Szoboszlai had two years remaining on his Liverpool deal heading into the summer, so this was always a file the club needed to handle. Gerrard’s view turns it into more than a tidy renewal. It is a sign that Liverpool see a player they want to keep central, and a former captain sees leadership qualities worth backing.

Gerrard's captaincy verdict

The most revealing part of Gerrard’s assessment is not the praise for quality, it is the focus on personality. “I hope he stays around for a long time because I think there's a potential captain in there. The way he's playing and his consistency and his mentality, you can hear it in his voice,” he said.

That is a strong line from someone who knows what Liverpool leadership looks like. Gerrard also said, “He's straight on to the next game, talking about Brighton. I love that about him. He's flying at the moment. He's full of confidence. He's got everything going for him. He's just got to maintain it and stay healthy.”

The form underneath that view is solid. Szoboszlai has averaged roughly 7.0 across his last 10 listed matches, played 822 minutes in that stretch, and his highest recent listed rating was 8.3. He has also contributed 4 goals or assists across those 10 games. That is a decent enough run for Liverpool to push on with a new deal.

Liverpool's contract timing

The club's timing makes sense. Liverpool finished 5th in the Premier League, and Szoboszlai has already shown he can carry a heavy workload in multiple competitions. He has even filled in at right-back on occasions during the 2025-26 season, which tells you how trusted he has become.

TEAMtalk reported that Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain monitored the situation, but the immediate picture is still about Liverpool closing things down rather than fighting a public auction. With final details left to sort, the club look keen to remove any doubt around one of their most reliable midfielders.

The debate over whether the deal is fully done or simply close enough is not especially complicated. Reporting this week has pointed both ways, but the consistent part is Liverpool’s intent to keep him. Gerrard’s captaincy verdict fits that neatly, because this is no longer just about extending a contract, it is about what Liverpool think Szoboszlai can become next.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →