John Barnes has been stunned by the performances of since joining Liverpool, saying he has been the most impressive player in the and comparable to Steven Gerrard.
The 22-year-old arrived from RB Leipzig over the for £60m and joined a new-look midfield at Anfield, but he has settled in with aplomb.
The Hungarian has scored twice in his first 12 games, but has shown all-round qualities which suggest he is going to be a star of Liverpool’s midfield for years to come.
Barnes has certainly liked what he has seen, believing he is a similar player to one of the greatest ever to pull on a Liverpool shirt, Steven Gerrard.
‘Szoboszlai understands his role and from an individual perspective his technical and physical ability is much more than I expected,’ Barnes told .
‘I didn’t know much about him when he came into the team but he’s good on the ball. He can dribble, he can pass, he can shoot. He’s got a great attitude, he can get up and down the pitch.
‘I think if he played as a box to box, like a Steven Gerrard type of role, he is that type of player.
‘Right now Liverpool play with a midfield three and he’s not required to play that way but he can do everything in midfield. I’ve been very impressed with him.’
Barnes has gone as far to say that the new Reds star has been as impressive as anyone in the division so far this campaign, helping Liverpool to six wins and two draws from their first nine games.
‘He for me has been the most impressive player in the Premier League. Mainly because I didn’t know how good he was. If I knew how good he was, maybe I wouldn’t be as impressed,’ said the former England winger.
‘Having not known that, I have to say the scouts at Liverpool have done an incredible job.’
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