Liverpool: 3 players who have what it takes to emulate Steven Gerrard

3. Dominik Szoboszlai

Age: 19

Position: Central-Midfielder

You could hear a pin drop inside the Groupama Arena. Deep into a crunch European Championship qualifier between Hungary and Slovakia, the Magyars had been awarded a free-kick.

Standing over the ball, ready to strike was 18 year old Dominik Szoboszlai. Hungary trailed one-nil. The pressure was on. The Hungarians needed a saviour.

Szoboszlai took a deep breath, narrowed his eyes on the target like a hawk and struck the ball towards the goal. The sound was like an arrow hissing through the sky. The ball nestled into the back of the net before the Slovakian goalkeeper could even move.

The Groupama Arena exploded into a cacophony of noise as a jubilant Szoboszlai wheeled away in celebration.

Cast your minds back to the days of Gerrard, change the setting to Anfield and the scene is eerily reminiscent of Liverpool’s former captain fantastic.

Szoboszlai is just 19 years of age, but the youngster has already delivered some iconic goals from long-range.

A dramatic last minute winner at U17 level against Norway to take Hungary to the European Championships was another moment which sparked memories of Gerrard.

The Hungarian midfielder who currently plies his trade at Austrian outfit Red Bull Salzburg has one of the most potent shots in world football. Szoboszlai can strike the ball like no other. Watch highlights of his goals on Youtube and if you squint your eyes you could be forgiven for mistaking some of them for Gerrard’s.

Szoboszlai is yet to prove himself in a big league, but his performances in the Champions League group-stages this season have been amicable. At Anfield, he played out of position but kept up with the tempo of the game and showed his defensive abilities.

The Hungarian is quick, exuberant with exemplary vision. Physically he needs to bulk up but that will come with age.

Some of Europe’s elite clubs are believed to be looking at him, including AC Milan, Juventus, Lazio and Arsenal.

It will only be a matter of time until he moves on from Salzburg.

And it is not disingenuous to suggest that he could one day end up at Anfield considering a plethora of current Liverpool stars once developed at Red Bull Salzburg’s illustrious academy including Sadio Mane, Naby Keita and Takumi Minamino.

What do you think, can any of the above-mentioned names emulate Steven Gerrard?