Suffering goals in the fashion Liverpool did at St James’ Park on one occasion might be deemed unfortunate. Twice? That suggests something rather different.
Should anything meaningful emerge from pre-season beyond fitness development, Andoni Iraola could identify a troubling pattern in his midfield’s tendency to leave opponents with vast amounts of unoccupied territory.
Iraola was quick to dismiss suggestions his engine room lacks a protective presence, yet the tactical challenge he faces, even at this stage, is proving an unwelcome complication.
The first goal Liverpool conceded arrived when Ryan Gravenberch inexplicably chose a sideways pass near the penalty area after an excellent piece of skill allowed him to drive forward.
The subsequent counter-attack gave William Osula the freedom to advance before sliding the ball through to the pacey Anthony Elanga, who netted his first goal in 50 Newcastle league appearances less than five minutes after Matthias Jaissle began his tenure on Tyneside.
Gravenberch’s eagerness to push forward ought to have prompted his colleague Dominik Szoboszlai to drop back and shield a back four left vulnerable by Newcastle’s swift counter-attack, despite numerical superiority and considerable pace in their own ranks.
Newcastle’s second goal, netted by Joe Willock just 110 seconds after entering the pitch, represented another masterclass in failing to detect danger early from Liverpool’s viewpoint.
A different player – perhaps one better recognised for defensive capabilities – might have simply pulled back the advancing Yoane Wissa after some neat footwork freed him from Liverpool’s midfield. But Florian Wirtz is not renowned as a defensive specialist, so Wissa escaped and attacked the back line before Willock curled a superb finish into the net.
Once more, the goal stemmed from more botched play by Gravenberch; his unsuccessful back-heel surrendered possession to Newcastle near their penalty area. On this occasion, Szoboszlai was ideally positioned to snuff out the counter-attack at source, yet his failure to do so permitted a moderately dangerous raid to develop into the worst possible outcome for Iraola’s team.
Despite Wirtz and Szoboszlai tracking back with evident commitment, Newcastle still managed to exploit being outnumbered two to four on the edge of Liverpool’s area to make it 2-1.
The goal, arriving within two minutes of Cody Gakpo’s leveller, further dented confidence and belief at precisely the moment the visitors might have anticipated taking control.
Former striker Daniel Sturridge told Sky Sports after the match that in his view the side requires a defensive midfielder. He noted the club had discussed this need for three years and that Gravenberch’s arrival altered that particular philosophy. However, the midfielders at the club are naturally more offensive in their instincts and Liverpool currently lack that specific profile. While he expressed fondness for Trey Nyoni as a player, he suggested the youngster functions more as a ball-playing number six rather than a destructive force intended to intimidate opposition.
Jamie Carragher posted on X following Newcastle’s opening goal at St James’, noting that Liverpool’s midfield pushing forward had occurred throughout pre-season, describing it as inexplicable. When the second goal arrived, he reiterated that this midfield setup cannot function, having made similar observations before any competitive action began.
Iraola, however, maintains his squad possesses adequate defensive cover despite Curtis Jones’s departure to Inter on Friday in a transaction worth £30 million. Speaking at his post-match press conference, Iraola suggested the issue extends beyond personnel. He acknowledged that Ryan Gravenberch effectively operates as the number six and was positioned near the edge of the box before Newcastle’s first goal. Had Gravenberch shot and scored instead, people would be praising his initiative. He expressed reluctance to remove that attacking instinct from his game while emphasising the necessity for the team to adapt and recognise such scenarios might occur. Regarding the first goal, he believed the side should have simply converted the promising opportunity they created from the edge of the area with a clear shooting chance, but failed to do so. Credit was due to Elanga for winning the race to the ball. He insisted the team were not caught unexpectedly and should have competed for the initial ball, potentially committing a foul and displaying greater aggression against the ball carrier.
Liverpool maintain Jones’s sale will not prompt a move for another central midfielder, yet their recent conduct contradicts their general position that a more defensive option remains unnecessary in the squad.
Between 2022 and 2024, the club pursued Aurelien Tchouameni, Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo and Martin Zubimendi, all central midfielders who could be considered number sixes.
The obvious immediate option is Wataru Endo, though this represents an imperfect solution given the Japan captain has not featured competitively since February and has seldom exceeded squad player status during his three years at Anfield.
The popular Endo has earned admiration from supporters and received praise for his committed displays, but at 33 he does not represent a sustainable answer to an increasingly pressing issue.
So what constitutes the solution? For Iraola, additional work at the AXA training complex will eventually resolve technical deficiencies, yet Szoboszlai, Gravenberch and substitute Alexis Mac Allister are not newcomers forging partnerships. All are in their fourth season at the club and have demonstrated, with appropriate tactical balance, they can perform effectively.
Does this therefore necessitate a specialist holding midfielder to restore equilibrium? An increasingly difficult viewpoint to dismiss.