Gerrard Backs FSG to Build Liverpool Around Szoboszlai as Slot Faces Mounting Pressure

Steven Gerrard has called on Fenway Sports Group to hold firm with Dominik Szoboszlai, insisting the £60million midfielder remains central to Liverpool's ambitions, as manager Arne Slot finds himself under intensifying scrutiny following the Reds' reverse at Brighton.

Szoboszlai arrived at Anfield in summer 2023 from RB Leipzig and has quickly established himself as a cornerstone of the defending Premier League champions' midfield. The 25-year-old Hungary international has proven his versatility this season, excelling both in his natural midfield role and when deployed at right-back by Slot. His contract runs through summer 2028, yet Liverpool face competition for his signature, with Real Madrid among the clubs monitoring his availability.

Contract negotiations are underway between the club and their influential midfielder, though the TNT Sports pundit believes losing him would be a grave mistake. Gerrard has identified five players around whom Liverpool should construct their future: Szoboszlai, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and Rio Ngumoha, who may arrive within the next 18 months.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's fixture at the American Express Stadium, Gerrard outlined his vision: "Szoboszlai has been at Liverpool since the tail-end of the Klopp era—he is a Klopp-type player. He is a wonderful signing. They need to keep him here. There have been a couple of rumours that maybe other teams are looking at him. If you can build the team around Ekitike, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Isak, and you think of Rio coming in the next 12, 18 months, if Liverpool can recruit really well from a defensive point of view, get a little bit more power in midfield, Liverpool will be again back fighting for the big prizes."

Those words proved prescient but ultimately hollow as Brighton inflicted a 2-1 defeat on the visitors, with Danny Welbeck—the former Manchester United forward—netting both goals. The loss leaves Liverpool precariously positioned, with Champions League qualification now a genuine concern rather than a formality.

Slot has endured mounting pressure throughout the campaign, and while FSG have not made any formal announcement regarding his future, the Dutchman faces what amounts to a defining finish to secure European football. The manager acknowledged the weight of expectation when discussing the defeat: "There is always pressure at Liverpool. On me, on the players. That is completely normal."

He added: "We have qualified for the quarter finals of the FA Cup and the Champions League but in the league we need to make sure that in the end, we qualify for the Champions League. As much as I dislike us losing here today, Brighton away has always been a difficult one and will always be a difficult one as long as they keep bringing in so many good players. But there are other games where we should have picked up more points, like last week against Tottenham. That is far more unacceptable than this. But even away at Brighton, a club like Liverpool should be able to get a result."

Slot is expected to hold discussions with the club's hierarchy at season's end, with the expectation that a return to the Champions League is non-negotiable.