“Whenever I tried to stop him, he showed me what I’ve never seen before… To be honest, no defender will like to face such a tricky player.”
These were the shocking words of Newcastle United’s fiery forward Anthony Gordon, as he admitted the one player in the Premier League who has completely unsettled him on the pitch. And to the surprise of many, Gordon didn’t pick Mohamed Salah or Luis Díaz—he went for Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool’s midfield dynamo.
The 23-year-old winger, who has faced some of Europe’s toughest defenders and attackers, confessed that Szoboszlai’s blend of creativity, pace, and unpredictability makes him the hardest opponent he has ever come up against. Unlike the traditional winger who relies solely on speed, Szoboszlai brings an entirely different arsenal: pinpoint vision, dribbling disguised with body feints, and a thunderous shot that keeps defenders second-guessing every move.
Gordon explained that each time he thought he had managed to close down Szoboszlai, the Hungarian international would twist his way out of the trap, either releasing a killer pass or creating a chance out of nothing. “He doesn’t just run at you; he manipulates you. He forces you to move the way he wants, and once you react, he’s already gone. Honestly, defenders hate that type of player,” Gordon revealed.
Since arriving at Liverpool, Szoboszlai has been nothing short of electrifying. His ability to transition seamlessly from midfield into attack has given Arne Slot’s men a lethal weapon that opponents struggle to contain. Fans often focus on Salah’s finishing or Darwin Núñez’s chaotic energy, but Gordon’s comments shine a light on the true engine of Liverpool’s attacking force—a player who is quietly becoming one of the most feared names in the Premier League.
For Newcastle’s rising star to openly admit that Szoboszlai is a nightmare to face shows just how much respect the Hungarian has already commanded among opponents. It also sends a warning to every Premier League defender: underestimate Szoboszlai at your own risk, because once he gets on the ball, it’s already too late.
Liverpool fans will be buzzing to hear such praise from a direct rival, knowing that the player who was once seen as a gamble signing has now proven himself to be the kind of midfield magician every top team craves.