Practically a 12 months to the day that Rio Ngumoha scored a A hundredth-minute winner at St James’s Park, Liverpool followers had been once more toasting a last-second objective as they descended the numerous steps down from the away find yourself within the skies.
Final August, they had been singing and dancing as they left the stadium. They had been doing the identical right here however with a nagging fear within the backs of their minds.
When the pulses and feelings lowered as they trudged again down the A1(M), everybody related to Liverpool would know that, regardless of the drama and pleasure that got here from the last-gasp equaliser, there are much more points than this time final 12 months.
Again then, keep in mind, the Reds had been the reigning champions and had began the defence on fireplace. Many observers, like they do now with Arsenal, anticipated this crew to win the league at a canter. Now, there are hints of optimism however that’s overridden by uncertainty.
Twelve months on and a change of supervisor later, this opening efficiency prompted extra questions than solutions. The problems that in the end led to Arne Slot shedding his job had been nonetheless evident and, regardless of the late celebrations, followers is perhaps fearful for the season forward.
The chief drawback for brand spanking new boss Andoni Iraola was the midfield – or lack thereof. Each objectives had been completed counter-attacks from Newcastle however each had been extremely preventable as Liverpool had been lower by means of comfortable.
Dominik Szoboszlai salvaged some extent for Liverpool at Newcastle with a last-gasp penalty
Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz and late hero Dominik Szoboszlai are all extremely gifted footballers. However do they work as a midfield three? They’re all extra naturally inclined to be attack-minded and the again door is left ajar to let groups punish them.
This summer season has been all about changing Mohamed Salah, who scored on his Trabzonspor league debut on Sunday, however why has there been no makes an attempt to signal a midfielder?
It’s not like this can be a new drawback. Alexis Mac Allister and Gravenberch had been each poor for the whole thing of final season and Liverpool have wanted a deep-lying participant since Fabinho left in the summertime of 2023.
‘The crew wants a defensive midfielder, we have now been speaking about this at Liverpool for 3 years,’ mentioned Daniel Sturridge on Sky Sports activities. ‘Gravenberch modified that philosophy however if you happen to analyse the midfield, they’re all naturally extra attacking gamers.
‘You take a look at Mamadou Sangare at Brentford, the stats leap off the web page, he was solely £39million which isn’t a load of cash.’
Each of Newcastle’s objectives got here from Gravenberch having possession on the sting of the house penalty space. Earlier than they knew it, Liverpool had been chasing again, there was no midfield enforcer to cease the counter-attack, the defence was stretched and so they conceded.
Consider a few of the nice Premier League groups, they’ve at all times had somebody blissful to take a seat in and break up the play: Claude Makelele, Ngolo Kante, Rodri, Fernandinho, a few of the greats at Manchester United.
Gravenberch was adept in 2024-25, when Liverpool gained the title, however has not reached that very same degree since. Mac Allister likewise. Szoboszlai is a mercurial footballer however higher additional ahead, as is Wirtz who was nameless once more right here at the beginning of a defining season for him.
Ryan Gravenberch was at fault for each of Newcastle’s objective and Liverpool ought to deal with signing a No6
Dominik Szoboszlai is way too attacking of a midfielder to fill the necessity deeper within the center
Liverpool stay hopeful of signing Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola this week and are weighing up whether or not to make a 3rd bid for Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh. These will likely be essential additions, given the large choices are restricted at current.
However signing a deep-lying midfielder is simply as vital. They might have one of the best entrance three on this planet but they may win no trophies if they’re so weak and uncovered to the counter-attack like they had been right here.
Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta took the headlines in Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona super-team, however No 6 Sergio Busquets was a very powerful cog in that machine.
Iraola thought Liverpool had been the higher crew right here however is perhaps delighted with the purpose given, for a lot of the match, they seemed prone to depart with nothing.
At Bournemouth, he performed with an lively and dynamic double-pivot of Tyler Adams and Lewis Prepare dinner. Thus far, the Basque boss appears not sure concerning the make-up of his top-heavy midfield. Learn how to get one of the best of Wirtz and Szoboszlai but additionally maintain the crew strong?
It’s now over to these upstairs to make sure the spectacular Iraola has the instruments to thrive this season, because the bench seemed weak.
A winger or two can be nice however a brand new holding midfielder ought to be part of the large forwards on the prime of that purchasing listing.
Isak’s day to overlook
We can’t repeat the phrases utilized by Newcastle followers however you possibly can have an excellent guess on the sentiments expressed in direction of Alexander Isak, as soon as of this parish.
Most phrases had been 4 letters lengthy and allow us to simply say that they weren’t variety.
Isak, all £125m of him, noticed his each contact jeered and booed by the hostile, raucous crowd at St James’.
This was a day to overlook for the Swede, who has seemed sharp in pre-season however didn’t translate that type to when it actually issues.
He had a few possibilities however fluffed his strains, a lot to the delight of the house followers. If Liverpool are to succeed this season, they want much more from Isak and Wirtz.
A returning Alexander Isak was booed with each contact and struggled in opposition to his former aspect
Lack of depth in assault is an actual fear
Lewis Koumas has been spectacular in pre-season, is a gifted participant who can play throughout the entrance three and the supervisor has taken a shine to the Welshman in coaching.
However the sight of him approaching instead to attempt to salvage some extent would possibly fear some Liverpool followers.
Koumas, son of former Premier League midfielder Jason, spent the second half of final season at Hull Metropolis – and was an unused substitute within the play-off last regardless of scoring some vital objectives on the way in which to promotion for the Tigers.
He has deserved his top-flight debut however followers are proper to ask why Iraola was left to depend on a participant who has spent the previous couple of years within the second tier, with loans additionally at Birmingham and Stoke.
The opposite wingers had blended afternoons. Victor Munoz seemed vivid off the bench, asking fixed questions and profitable the foul that led to the decisive penalty.
Cody Gakpo took his objective extremely properly with a high-quality hit from distance and was Liverpool’s best attacker – but he has question-marks over his future given Tottenham have proven curiosity in signing him this summer season.
Ngumoha is an thrilling expertise and has all of the instruments to be a future world-beater however didn’t make a severe impression right here, with simply 21 touches. The 17-year-old is best on the left flank and was largely ineffective on the fitting flank.
All this got here as, 2,000 miles south-east, Salah was scoring on his Turkish Superlig debut for Trabzonspor. With little over per week left of the window to go, the Egyptian King has nonetheless not been changed.
