Liverpool's Midfield Weakness Exposed - Will They Reinforce in the Transfer Window?

Just four minutes into the match against Newcastle, Liverpool looked promising with solid ball control and urgency. Ryan Gravenberch made a clever move to bypass Lewis Miley but lost possession instead of shooting or setting up Dominik Szoboszlai. Moments later, Newcastle took the lead through Anthony Elanga after a swift counterattack following Amar Dedic's clearance. Liverpool's lack of structure when out of possession was glaring, marking a disastrous start for head coach Andoni Iraola.

The second half repeated the pattern. Gravenberch lost the ball again after attempting a backheel near Newcastle’s box. Yoane Wissa then raced through multiple Liverpool players to assist Joe Willock, who scored beautifully. Iraola hinted that a tactical foul might have been necessary, but the team paid dearly. Gravenberch's choices were questionable, and defenders Virgil van Dijk and Jeremy Jacquet hesitated instead of closing down threats faster. A dedicated defensive midfielder could likely have stopped these attacks.

No True Defensive Midfielder Since Fabinho

Liverpool have not had a genuine number six since Fabinho left in 2023. Iraola prefers a two-man midfield pivot with Florian Wirtz playing as a number 10, leaving Gravenberch and Szoboszlai too far forward. Both were caught inside the Newcastle box when possession was lost before Elanga’s opener. For Liverpool to compete at the highest level, such lapses cannot keep happening.

Iraola on Personnel and Tactical Adjustments

Iraola usually avoids lengthy post-match talks, preferring to address his squad the day after. Asked about preventing similar goals, he argued the problem wasn’t just personnel. He noted if Gravenberch had scored from his position, the praise would be loud. Gravenberch did provide the assist for Cody Gakpo’s equaliser earlier.

After Newcastle went ahead 2-1, Iraola brought on Alexis Mac Allister for Wirtz, and the defense seemed steadier, even though Mac Allister favors an eight role. Stats from the game showed Szoboszlai made no tackles and won only 30% of duels, while Gravenberch made no tackles with a 40% duel success rate. Mac Allister made two tackles and won 80% of his duels after coming on.

"We have to adapt as a team to these situations and understand they can happen," Iraola said. "We probably did better defending the second goal, but we didn’t foul or close the distance quickly enough. These issues aren’t down to one player; it’s something the whole team needs to fix."

The expected goals (xG) reflected Liverpool’s dominance but Newcastle’s efficiency, with 1.43 xG for Newcastle and 2.73 for Liverpool.

Will Liverpool Strengthen Before the Transfer Deadline?

Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge criticized the squad openly on Sky Sports, saying, "Liverpool do not have that profile of player right now. The team has needed a defensive midfielder for three years. If you look at the midfield, they are all naturally attacking players."

The club’s focus remains on signing wide attacking players despite Curtis Jones’ departure. They remain open to opportunities but Iraola seems confident with backup options like Wataru Endo, Trey Nyoni, and James McConnell in midfield.

Liverpool showed interest in Adam Wharton, but Crystal Palace have made it clear the 22-year-old is not for sale. Past attempts under Jurgen Klopp to sign Moises Caicedo in 2023 and later Martin Zubimendi in 2024 failed, the latter after the player declined the move.

Gravenberch’s strong performance last season helped Liverpool win the Premier League, masking some midfield weaknesses. Last summer, the club prioritized boosting their attack with Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike over reinforcing the midfield.

Now, those midfield weaknesses are more obvious. Iraola knows the team’s midfield must become tougher defensively to stop conceding so easily.

• Newcastle Goals: Anthony Elanga, Joe Willock
• Liverpool Goal: Cody Gakpo (assist by Ryan Gravenberch)
• xG Newcastle: 1.43
• xG Liverpool: 2.73
• Midfield Duel Success Rates:
• Dominik Szoboszlai: 30%
• Ryan Gravenberch: 40%
• Alexis Mac Allister (after substitution): 80%