'Madness!' - Jamie Carragher tears into Liverpool midfield after Newcastle punish Iraola's tactical gamble
Midfield madness exposes Liverpool
Liverpool made a frustrating start to their Premier League campaign under new head coach Andoni Iraola, who succeeded Arne Slot, with a disastrous defensive display seeing Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson concede twice to Newcastle United through Anthony Elanga and Joe Willock.
Carragher pulled no punches in his post-match analysis after watching Liverpool get sliced open repeatedly on the counterattack. The former defender was left incensed by Elanga's opening goal after just five minutes, with the Reds' midfield once again exposed as Newcastle broke forward. He immediately took to X to write: "LFC Midfield all bombing forward happened all pre-season, madness!"
Carragher's frustration only grew after Willock's second goal came in similar circumstances, prompting him to post: "Again! This midfield cannot work, I said it before a competitive ball was kicked."
Same old transitional problems
The tactical frailties on display were painfully reminiscent of the issues that plagued Liverpool during the latter stages of last season under Slot. The trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Florian Wirtz offered plenty of technical quality in possession, but lacked defensive awareness out of it. Both Elanga and Willock exploited vast chasms in central areas, leaving debutant defenders Jérémy Jacquet and Milos Kerkez isolated against rapid counterattacks throughout the contest.
The match itself proved to be a chaotic affair as Cody Gakpo's 55th-minute strike briefly brought Liverpool level before Willock restored Newcastle's lead almost instantly. Iraola threw on debutants Víctor Muñoz and Ronald Araújo in search of a response, and the tactical gamble paid off when Muñoz won a penalty deep in stoppage time.
Szoboszlai coolly converted the 99th-minute spot-kick to spare Iraola a debut defeat, though the result did little to quell concerns regarding the team's structural balance.
Sturridge demands defensive midfielder
Former Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge concurred with the former defender, urging Iraola to sign a new No.6 before the transfer window closes on September 1. Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Chelsea and Manchester City star said: "I think the team needs a defensive midfielder personally."
He added: "We’ve been talking about the defensive midfielder at Liverpool for the past three years. Gravenberch coming into the team, playing consistently and Liverpool winning the Premier League changed that philosophy. But if you actually analyse the midfield, they’re all naturally more attacking players."
What's next for Liverpool
Liverpool will now turn their attention to addressing these tactical deficiencies on the training pitch before their next Premier League fixture. The Reds will welcome Nottingham Forest to Anfield on August 30 in the second round of the Premier League.
Iraola faces an immediate challenge to solidify his midfield setup and integrate his summer additions into a defensive structure capable of withstanding high-tempo counterattacks. Supporters will be demanding quick solutions to avoid a repeat of the defensive frailties exposed against Newcastle.
