There was always a risk that Liverpool would regret not strengthening their midfield during the summer.
After Saturday’s frustrating 0-0 draw with Fulham, that risk is starting to look like reality.
Liverpool’s starting midfield has shown enough already this season to suggest that it simply isn’t good enough to consistently control matches at the level this club expects.
And the biggest frustration is that this wasn’t an unforeseen problem.
The warning signs were there before the season started.
Liverpool knew they were changing manager. They knew Andoni Iraola would want different demands from his midfield. They knew the team needed energy, intensity, control and the ability to dictate games.
Yet when the summer transfer window closed, no new established midfielder had arrived.
Now we’re seeing the consequences.
Gravenberch and Szoboszlai aren’t working together
Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai are both talented footballers.
But that doesn’t automatically mean they make the right midfield partnership.
Against Fulham, Liverpool’s midfield lacked urgency and struggled to impose itself. The two were among the players taken off as Iraola tried to change the game, with Alexis Mac Allister making an immediate impact after coming on.
That’s becoming a concern.
Liverpool need midfielders who can take control of a game when things aren’t going their way.
They need someone who can receive the ball under pressure, turn, move Liverpool up the pitch and dictate the tempo.
They need someone who can win duels, cover ground and give the attacking players the platform to hurt teams.
At the moment, Liverpool don’t seem to have enough of that in the starting combination.
Mac Allister cannot solve everything
Alexis Mac Allister remains hugely important to this Liverpool team.
In fact, his introduction against Fulham only strengthened the argument that he should be playing a bigger role in the midfield.
But Liverpool shouldn’t be relying on one player to fix an entire structural problem.
Mac Allister can bring control, intelligence and composure.
What Liverpool need is another midfielder alongside him who can complement those qualities.
Instead, we’re seeing Iraola having to work with what he has.
And that’s not necessarily fair on the manager.
Iraola has inherited a squad which was largely constructed for a different style of football under Arne Slot.
He needs time to mould the team into his own side.
But he also needed the tools to do it.
This is why not signing a midfielder was such a mistake
This is the part that frustrates me most.
Liverpool didn’t need to sign another midfielder simply for the sake of it.
They needed to add competition and a different profile.
Someone who could come into the team and give Iraola another option.
Someone who could start alongside Mac Allister.
Someone who could play when Gravenberch or Szoboszlai aren’t performing.
Someone who could change the tempo of a game from the bench.
Because at the moment, when Liverpool’s midfield isn’t functioning, Iraola doesn’t have enough solutions.
That was obvious against Fulham.
Liverpool had possession but struggled to turn it into genuine control or clear chances. Fulham were able to stay in the game and, for long periods, looked the more dangerous side. Reuters described Liverpool as lacking energy and sharpness, while Fulham’s performance earned them a deserved point.
January suddenly looks very important
Liverpool reportedly have midfielders on their radar for a future window, which tells us that the club themselves are aware there is an issue.
But why wait?
If the same problems continue through the autumn, Liverpool could find themselves needing reinforcements desperately rather than simply looking for an upgrade.
And that makes January potentially very important.
Liverpool shouldn’t panic and sign the wrong player.
But if there is a midfielder available who fits Iraola’s system and can genuinely improve the squad, they have to be prepared to act.
Because this Liverpool team has too much attacking quality to be held back by a midfield that cannot consistently control matches.
Wirtz, Isak, Barcola and the rest of the attacking options need a midfield capable of supplying them.
They shouldn’t be expected to create everything themselves.
Liverpool have to learn from this
The 0-0 draw with Fulham shouldn’t suddenly lead to calls for half the squad to be replaced.
There is still plenty of time for Iraola to improve this team.
But Liverpool have now had a clear warning.
The midfield isn’t good enough as it stands.
And when you consider that this season is supposed to be about building a new Liverpool under Iraola, not strengthening the midfield during the summer looks like a significant missed opportunity.
The club now has two choices.
They can hope the current midfield suddenly finds another level.
Or they can recognise what is staring them in the face and give Iraola another quality option.
For me, Liverpool need to do the latter.
Because if they want to compete seriously on multiple fronts, the midfield cannot remain the weak point of this team.
The decision not to strengthen it in the summer could prove to be one of Liverpool’s biggest mistakes.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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