Mohamed Salah and Arne Slot have showered praise on Dominik Szoboszlai, declaring the Hungarian midfielder as one of the best players in the world right now following Liverpool’s commanding 3-0 FA Cup fourth-round victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on February 14, 2026.
The Reds progressed comfortably to the fifth round thanks to a clinical display: Curtis Jones broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute with a smart finish from Milos Kerkez’s pinpoint cross, Szoboszlai doubled the lead early in the second half with a thunderous strike after latching onto Salah’s exquisite first-time cushioned pass, and Salah sealed the win from the penalty spot in the 68th minute after drawing a foul in the box.
Szoboszlai’s goal — his 10th of the season — capped another standout performance from the 25-year-old, who has been in scintillating form lately, contributing goals, creativity, and relentless energy in midfield. His all-round display drew glowing tributes from both his manager and teammate post-match.
Speaking to TNT Sports and in the official press conference, Salah — who himself delivered a man-of-the-match-level showing with a goal, assist, and penalty won — didn’t hold back in his admiration for his close friend.
“I think it is going to depend on his [Szoboszlai’s] performance,” Salah said when asked about Liverpool’s chances of lifting the FA Cup. “We rely on him so much. This season he is one of the best players in the world. I wish he can carry on like this. It is great to win trophies. Hopefully we can go on until the end.”
Salah’s bold claim resonated around the football world, highlighting Szoboszlai’s transformation into a key figure under Slot this campaign. The midfielder has added consistent goal threat to his game — scoring five in his last eight appearances across competitions — while maintaining his trademark box-to-box dynamism and passing accuracy (he completed 47 of 48 passes against Brighton, many in dangerous areas).
Arne Slot, in his post-match comments to Liverpoolfc.com and broadcasters, fully endorsed Salah’s assessment.
When directly asked about Salah’s description of Szoboszlai as one of the best in the world, Slot replied: “I think there are a lot of very good to elite football players in the world, but I definitely agree with Mo that Dominic is one of them.”
The Dutch boss went further, praising Szoboszlai’s growing goal-scoring output and his example to the rest of the midfield. “Dominic scoring more than last season… is that a way that midfielders need to score goals? Yes, and he’s a great example for the others,” Slot added. He emphasized the need for midfielders to contribute offensively while running relentlessly, noting Szoboszlai’s role in sustaining Liverpool’s high intensity in recent weeks.
Slot also lauded the broader team performance, including Salah’s all-round contribution — not just the goal and assist, but his defensive work-rate. “It’s very nice to have him [Salah] on the scoresheet again… but what I like the most at the moment is he also helps the team a lot defensively,” Slot said, adding that recent games show “the future looks really bright for this club with these players.”
The win came amid ongoing debates over officiating (from the earlier disallowed Rio Ngumoha “goal” and penalty calls), but the focus post-match shifted to positives: Liverpool’s clinical edge, squad depth, and stars stepping up. Szoboszlai’s emergence as a talismanic figure has fans dreaming of silverware, with Salah and Slot both pinning hopes on his continued excellence.
As Liverpool build momentum in a topsy-turvy season, Szoboszlai’s form could prove pivotal in their push for the FA Cup, Premier League, and beyond. The Kop faithful are buzzing — and with endorsements like these, who can blame them?
