Andoni Iraola’s first big task at Liverpool: Fix the wide-open midfield
Following a draw with Newcastle, new Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola faces the urgent task of addressing the team's vulnerability to counter-attacks through midfield.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Author: Jeff Buck
Andoni Iraola’s debut period as Liverpool manager has highlighted a recurring tactical challenge: the team’s vulnerability to counter-attacks through the center of the pitch. The 2-2 draw with Newcastle served as a stark reminder of these defensive gaps.
Analysis suggests that Liverpool's midfield trio—often featuring Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz, and Dominik Szoboszlai—occasionally aligns vertically, leaving the center easily bypassed when possession is lost. These structural issues allowed Newcastle to capitalize with alarming simplicity on Sunday.
Iraola is already implementing adjustments. He has been observed urging his center-backs to push higher to maintain compactness during build-up play. Furthermore, he has experimented with shifting roles, notably introducing Alexis Mac Allister into the deep-lying role against Newcastle, pushing Gravenberch further forward. This shift marks a departure from previous tactical setups that struggled to secure the midfield base.
The manager’s focus is now on the upcoming home fixture against Nottingham Forest this Saturday. As Liverpool looks to avoid a repeat of last season's 3-0 home defeat to the same opponent, Iraola must ensure his side remains disciplined and less susceptible to the direct counter-attacking threats that plagued them last term.