NewsDominik Szoboszlai on Liverpool vice-captaincy and his love for Andoni Iraola football
Andoni Iraola last month named Szoboszlai, Alisson Becker and Joe Gomez as deputies to skipper Virgil van Dijk for 2026-27, following the departure of Andy Robertson over the summer.
The 25-year-old, who captains the Hungary national team, signed a new long-term contract with the Reds in July and believes he was ready to step up into a formal leadership role at club level.
And, in conversation with legendary former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard for TNT Sports, he has given an insight into how he goes about his duties.
“I think so [I was ready]. This is my longest period in a football club, to be honest, because I was never so long in a club like this. This is my fourth season,” Szoboszlai said.
“I try to give every day my best, in every game, in every training session. Sometimes I’m maybe not speaking as much in the changing room – for this we have other types of players, like Virgil, Joey, Ali, they are even more senior.
“Yes [I try to lead by example]. I can also speak… I think you need both, but I would rather speak on the pitch, how I do and what I do.”
Szoboszlai also described the pleasure he takes in playing under Iraola.
Of the head coach, he added: “I like him, I like him a lot. Obviously I know his is a really direct playing style, intense, which I love.
“This is what we missed last season. If we can bring this intensity back and [show] that we want it more than the others, we have the quality – and this together, no-one can stop us.
“Obviously I spoke to Milos [Kerkez] – obviously he had him at Bournemouth so I was expecting, actually, this because he said, ‘We are going to go, we run, all in, one-v-one if needed,’ and that is what I like. I want to go and we shouldn’t be scared of anyone.
“As Liverpool FC, we should focus on what the other teams do but they should focus more on what we are doing. So, let’s make something perfect and then let’s see.
“Let them think, ‘Oh, what are we going to do now Liverpool is coming?’”