While lots of football media write content around ‘what we learned’ from a match, this was a case of ‘what we already know’.
What most Liverpool observers already knew:
1. There’s a huge issue with the midfield
2. Liverpool are far too open on the transition
3. The full backs, especially Jeremie Frimpong, are major concerns
4. Alexander Isak doesn’t look like a Liverpool player
Liverpool’s issues were as clear at St James’ Park as they have been for a year, and in some cases well over a year.
The primary one is the midfield – both the setup and the personnel used.
“We’ve been talking about a defensive midfielder at Liverpool for the last three years,” assessed Daniel Sturridge accurately post-match.
Liverpool have midfield issues
Plenty of others have warned of it, going back to the very start of last season when Arne Slot changed his midfield setup to a ‘2-1’ rather than a ‘1-2’ – removing a more dedicated defensive minded holding midfielder and instead having two players alongside each other in midfield.
It means a completely changed role for Ryan Gravenberch, whose best six months came when he was positioned as more proactive ‘No.6’ in front of the defence in Slot’s first season in charge.
It was also done to accommodate Florian Wirtz as the new No.10 – something that Iraola has doubled down on and stated is where he, too, wants the German to play.
This is despite Wirtz’s best form with both Bayer Leverkusen and Germany being from a position on the left of an attacking three, cutting inside, and all evidence of his struggle centrally for Liverpool. Hooked after an hour at Newcastle, the £116 million signing is a major worry.
“If you actually analyse the midfield, they’re all naturally more attacking players,” Sturridge said on Sky Sports – which is certainly true. Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wirtz are offensive players, or at least want to be, and don’t have the natural defensive mindset of the likes of Fabinho or Rodri.
And it is perhaps Rodri who should be the signpost here to anybody saying that Liverpool supporters obsess over wanting a No.6 – of course they do, they saw firsthand how Fabinho transformed their midfield under Jurgen Klopp, and the whole league has watched how crucial Rodri has been to Manchester City.
The lighthouse was how former Liverpool assistant Pepijn Lijnders nicknamed Fabinho, for his ability to ‘organise the chaos’ and ‘defend forward. “On the defensive side of things, you have to be very alert to help the team,” said Liverpool’s former Brazilian. “I try to control the game.”
Liverpool severely lack a midfielder capable of controlling the game.
Arguably the best option there would be Alexis Mac Allister, whose introduction for the final half an hour saw him play more defensively than Gravenberch.
The Argentine does a similar role for his country, and did well there for a spell under Klopp previously too, even though, again, it’s not his natural game to be more defensive minded.
What Andoni Iraola says
Newcastle’s opening goal in particular showed the issue, with Gravenberch and Szoboszlai, the two midfielders, inside the Newcastle box as the counter-attack began.
It’s something that happened frequently last season, including when Antoine Semenyo charged through the middle in Liverpool’s opening fixture of 2025/26 for Iraola’s Bournemouth.
Now, the Reds’ new head coach needs to find a solution to a problem he previously identified as the opposition manager.
“I think it’s just not personnel,” he said in his post-match press conference at St James’ Park. “We have to adapt as a team to these situations and we have to know that these situations can happen.”
“It is something that we have to correct between a lot of players,” the Spaniard added.
Liverpool’s invisible No. 6 search
Liverpool have needed a defensive-minded midfielder since Fabinho departed. That was in 2023, a summer that saw attempts to sign Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia end in failure and eventually Wataru Endo was brought in in a surprise move.
“We need you,” Klopp told the Japan midfielder as they greeted at the training ground for the first time. “We really need you, and your heart, and your legs and your football ability and your football brain. Your desire, we need it.”
Little has changed in the three years since. Liverpool still need a midfielder of those qualities.
Mamadou Sangare, who debuted impressively for Brentford in their win against Tottenham, was reported to be among the players Liverpool were monitoring but didn’t move for this summer – a player who has the attributes and approach towards defending in the middle that fans crave.
Martin Zubimendi was another failed attempt at a signing two years ago, less of a combative defensive midfielder but more of a controlling one – Rodri’s deputy for Spain, it probably wasn’t a bad idea, even if he’s fallen out of favour under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.
Adam Wharton is a player who has long looked destined to end up at Anfield, having been tracked since his Blackburn days. He again falls more into the control than combat category, but he’d certainly add something different in Liverpool’s midfield.
But for now, it appears the No. 6 fans wish for won’t be arriving, with recent reports suggesting that internal figures at the club don’t see it as a position that is required to be strengthened. Not many observers would agree.
Liverpool fans must hope Iraola finds a solution, and fast, otherwise it threatens to undermine any progress made in attacking areas this season.
Signing new wingers might help the situation by giving more pace and threat out wide, but it certainly won’t solve it.
