Liverpool’s midfield is fragile – will they act in the window?
Liverpool's fragile midfield structure was exposed again in their 2-2 draw at Newcastle, with Ryan Gravenberch losing possession in the build-up to both goals conceded. Head coach Andoni Iraola faces growing scrutiny over his side's lack of a recognised defensive midfielder, a gap that has persisted since Fabinho left the club in 2023, raising questions about whether the club will address it before the transfer window closes.
Newcastle scored just 11 seconds after Gravenberch was dispossessed for the first goal, with Anthony Elanga finishing a rapid counter-attack, while a similar lapse led to Joe Willock's second-half strike. Iraola currently favours a two-man midfield pivot of Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai behind Florian Wirtz, but both defensive midfielders struggled defensively against Newcastle, with Szoboszlai making no tackles and winning just 30% of duels, and Gravenberch also failing to make a tackle while winning 40% of duels; substitute Alexis Mac Allister, by contrast, won 80% of his duels after coming on. Despite the defensive frailties, Liverpool's underlying numbers were strong, with an expected goals tally of 2.73 against Newcastle's 1.43, and they salvaged a point through a late penalty save.
- Liverpool conceded two sloppy goals from Gravenberch turnovers at Newcastle.
- Team lacks a dedicated defensive midfielder since Fabinho left in 2023.
- Questions grow over whether Liverpool will strengthen midfield in the transfer window.
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Liverpool have relied on a two-man midfield of Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai to sit in front of the defence and protect Florian Wirtz further forward. Neither player is a specialist defensive midfielder, a role once filled by Fabinho, who left the club in 2023. Since then, Liverpool have not brought in a like-for-like replacement, leaving a gap that pundits and fans have periodically raised concerns about.
Andoni Iraola is the club's head coach, responsible for team selection and tactics, and any decision on reshaping the midfield ultimately falls to him and the club's recruitment staff. The transfer window is the period during which clubs can buy and sell players, and it is due to close soon, meaning there is limited time left for Liverpool to sign a new midfielder if they choose to.
This matters because a team's midfield often determines how well it controls matches, both in attack and in shielding the defence. Repeated defensive lapses in that area can lead to goals conceded and dropped points over a season, which is why Liverpool's approach to strengthening or persisting with their current options in the remaining transfer window is being closely watched.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Advocates of squad reinforcement would argue Liverpool must sign a specialist holding midfielder now: the data is unambiguous, with both Gravenberch and Szoboszlai registering zero tackles and sub-40% duel success while direct turnovers led to goals, and this fits a structural pattern dating back to Fabinho's 2023 departure rather than a one-off performance. Given the resources available to the club and a closing transfer window, they would say it is prudent squad management to address a clearly identified weakness before it costs points in matches that matter more than a Newcastle draw.
The case against
Those urging patience would point out that Liverpool created 2.73 expected goals to Newcastle's 1.43 and were the better side for long spells, suggesting the underlying process is sound and two moments of individual misfortune should not be mistaken for systemic collapse. They might add that Iraola deserves time to bed in his preferred system with Wirtz, that panic-buying late in the window risks disrupting squad harmony and squandering funds on a player who may not suit the tactical plan, and that internal options like Mac Allister, who impressed after coming on, could yet solve the issue without recourse to the market.