Newcastle draw highlights Liverpool’s ongoing midfield and defensive concerns
Liverpool’s Challenging Start Under New Management
Liverpool began their season with a 2-2 draw against Newcastle at St. James’ Park, a result that has raised questions about the team’s performance under new coach Andoni Iraola. The match, Iraola’s first competitive fixture as Liverpool coach, saw the team come from behind twice to secure a point. However, the draw has reportedly diminished some of the optimism surrounding Iraola’s appointment at Anfield.
The game on Tyneside highlighted persistent issues that were present in the previous season. According to one commentator, the weaknesses that affected Liverpool last season have not been resolved. This was particularly evident in the midfield, where Iraola’s decision to play Florian Wirtz ahead of a double midfield pivot of Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai appeared to create vulnerabilities.
Newcastle managed to score early in the match, with Anthony Elanga breaking the deadlock after just five minutes. This goal came from a rapid breakaway, a type of goal that Liverpool reportedly conceded frequently in the past season. Joe Willock then put Newcastle ahead again shortly after Cody Gakpo’s equaliser, further exposing defensive frailties.
Midfield Balance and Player Performance Under Scrutiny
The midfield pairing of Gravenberch and Szoboszlai, while considered fine footballers, are seen as more effective in attacking roles than defensive ones. Their offensive orientation reportedly leaves the back four exposed, as demonstrated when both players were in the opposition area during Newcastle’s opening goal. This lack of defensive cover in midfield is a significant concern, especially with Wirtz also playing in an advanced position.
Florian Wirtz, a summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen, faced criticism for his performance. Despite registering one of Liverpool’s few shots on target in the first half, he struggled to impose himself on the game. A club legend had previously challenged the £100 million player to demonstrate more than just being “neat and tidy” on the ball, but his display against Newcastle did not meet these expectations. His passing was tidy, completing 29 of 33 attempts, and he created one chance while completing one of two dribbles. However, the overall impression was that more was needed from him.
Similarly, Alexander Isak, another player who commanded a significant fee, also had a difficult return to Newcastle. While he may have lacked service for much of the game, he missed a clear opportunity in the second half, sending the ball over the bar. The struggles of both Wirtz and Isak are a concern for Liverpool, who invested heavily in these players with the expectation that they would contribute to success, particularly in competitions like the Champions League.
The performance of Liverpool’s full-backs also drew criticism. Journalist Ian Doyle singled out Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong as “particularly shocking” in the first half. Both full-backs received yellow cards, and their defensive efforts were found wanting. Frimpong reportedly lost possession eight times in the opening half and failed to produce an accurate cross, while Kerkez was caught for pace on Elanga’s early goal and lost the ball nine times. These performances suggest a significant drop from the standards set by previous Liverpool full-backs.
Looking Ahead for Iraola’s Squad
Iraola made a double substitution after Newcastle took the lead for the second time, bringing on Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz for Wirtz and Rio Ngumoha. Ngumoha, who was tasked with replacing Mohamed Salah on the right wing despite preferring the left, also had a challenging outing. While it is still early in the season and Iraola’s tenure has just begun, the draw against Newcastle highlighted areas that require immediate attention.
The team finished in fifth place in the previous season without winning any trophies, and it was anticipated that improving the squad would take time. Szoboszlai emphasised the need for players to focus on the positives after twice recovering from a deficit to secure a draw. However, the match served as another reminder of the challenges facing Liverpool, particularly concerning the form of Wirtz and Isak, who were expected to help solve the team’s problems rather than add to them.
One pundit had predicted that Wirtz would achieve at least 25 Premier League goals and assists this season. However, his performance against Newcastle suggests he is far from reaching such a target. The question of how to best utilise Wirtz within the team’s system remains, with suggestions that another midfielder may need to sacrifice their attacking instincts to balance the team. The season is long, and Liverpool will need to address these issues as they continue their campaign.
Source: goal.com
