Daniel Sturridge Critiques Liverpool’s Midfield Issues

Daniel Sturridge has thrown a sharp spotlight on Liverpool’s summer planning, questioning how a glaring midfield flaw is still haunting the team – and why a player like Mamadou Sangare was allowed to slip away to Brentford.

Old Problems, New Coach

A new season, a new head coach, but the same old warning signs.

Andoni Iraola’s first Premier League game in charge of Liverpool, away at Newcastle United, was supposed to hint at a new era. Instead, within minutes at St. James’ Park, the familiar nightmare unfolded. Ryan Gravenberch lost the ball just outside the Newcastle box, and in a flash Liverpool were sliced open on the counter.

From back to front, Newcastle surged through the middle of the pitch, and Anthony Elanga finished the move to put the hosts 1-0 up. It was brutally simple. It was also painfully familiar.

Liverpool did respond after the break. Cody Gakpo grabbed an equaliser early in the second half, briefly suggesting Iraola’s side might wrestle control of the game. That hope didn’t last. Once again, Liverpool were caught in transition, this time substitute Joe Willock punishing them to restore Newcastle’s lead.

Only deep into stoppage time did Liverpool escape defeat. Victor Munoz drew a penalty after a foul from Lewis Hall, and Dominik Szoboszlai kept his nerve from the spot to snatch a 2-2 draw.

The late rescue act changed the scoreline. It did nothing to change the conversation.

Sturridge: “They Need a Destroyer”

On Sky Sports after the game, Daniel Sturridge cut straight to the heart of the issue: control – or the lack of it – in Liverpool’s midfield.

"I think the team needs a defensive midfielder, personally," he said. "We've been talking about a defensive midfielder at Liverpool for the last three years and I think Gravenberch coming in and winning the league changed that philosophy.

"But, if you actually analyze the midfield, they're all naturally more attacking players."

For Sturridge, the balance is wrong. Too many ball players. Not enough ball winners.

That led him to one name in particular: Mamadou Sangare.

The One That Got Away?

Brentford signed Sangare this summer for around £39 million ($52 million), a fee Sturridge believes should have been well within Liverpool’s reach for a player of his profile.

"For instance, if you look at Brentford signing Mamadou Sangare," he said. "The stats jump out on the page. They are third in interceptions, third in tackles, third in possession recovered.

"For me, £39 million, you think to yourself, that's not a load of money for someone like Liverpool.

"I'm not suggesting he was the man, but the stats jump out the page. Liverpool don't have that profile of player right now."

It was a pointed comparison. While Liverpool continue to rely on a collection of attack-minded midfielders, Brentford have moved decisively for a specialist ball-winner, a player whose numbers scream “destroyer”.

No Fear Factor in the Middle

Sturridge did highlight one young talent, Trey Nyoni, as a player he rates highly. But again, the profile doesn’t solve the problem he sees.

"Trey Nyoni, I really like him, but he's more of a ball playing eight," he said. "He's not a destroyer and won't strike fear in the opposition, like a Sangare can. Or an N'Golo Kante over the years."

The message is clear: Liverpool’s midfield doesn’t scare teams without the ball. It doesn’t intimidate. It doesn’t shut down counters. And in Iraola’s aggressive, front-foot system, that gap looks even more dangerous.

Sturridge also floated a positional tweak for one of Liverpool’s marquee names.

"I also think, if I'm being honest, [Dominik] Szoboszlai is better as a no.10."

In other words, one of Liverpool’s hardest-running midfielders might be most effective higher up the pitch, not deeper where the defensive gaps already feel huge.

A Familiar Question for Liverpool’s Hierarchy

The draw at Newcastle will go down as a point earned on paper. On the pitch, it felt like a warning.

Liverpool have changed the man in the dugout. The personnel in midfield, though, still carry the same questions that have lingered for years. As Sturridge sees it, the club have watched a player with the right profile – at a price they could handle – join a domestic rival.

The transfer window is ticking. Liverpool’s system demands a destroyer. The Premier League will not wait while they search for one.