Here's How Liverpool Can Fix Their Midfield Problems | w/ Dave Segar
Liverpool's midfield problems against Newcastle have been a big talking point — but how can Andoni Iraola actually fix them? After the way Liverpool were opened up on the break time and time, there has been plenty of discussion about their midfield make-up. But do they really need a new ‘six’ before the transfer window shuts? Check out the Opta Analyst website: https://theanalyst.com/ 📬 Sign up for the Opta Analyst Newsletter here for free: https://theanalyst.com/sign-up Follow Opta Analyst: Twitter: https://x.com/OptaAnalyst Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theoptaanalyst Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/optaanalyst/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@optaanalyst QUESTION - Have a question about a player or data? Drop it in the comments! andoniiraola liverpool liverpoolfc
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Liverpool's midfield against Newcastle has been a talking point all week, but what actually went wrong and which players could they sign to fix that? We're joined by Opta analyst Dave Segar to discuss it all further. Dave, thank you for joining us. One week down in the Premier League, a point away to Newcastle. Dare I say happy with that with how the game went? >> I think yeah, it's one of those where if if you if you'd offered it with 10 minutes to go, definitely. Um but I think at the start of the game there was an expectation that it would be a win and not that that's probably more to do with with Newcastle than obviously they have lost a lot of key players over the summer, new manager, uh wasn't particularly good vibes going into it from from their end, but I think Liverpool was sort of hopeful that if they just played a competent game, they should be able to get through it, but I think going behind after 5 minutes in the way they did wasn't part of the plan, but yeah, it's it it was it was a good point considering they they were 2-1 down and struggling for most of it, but yeah, I think they'll they'll probably overall be a bit disappointed with it. >> From the game, Liverpool's midfield has obviously been a huge topic of discussion this week, but what actually went wrong with the structure? >> I mean, a lot of people would just say it was players who were supposed to be playing there just kind of vacating their position all at once and leaving a a gaping hole behind them, which is fair when you look at both goals. Obviously, Almirón's being as early as it was as well, there's that that image that I think most people have seen by now where when Amrabat Dedic intercepts Gravenberch's cross, sets that counterattack away. Gravenberch and Szoboszlai are stood next to each other about the furthest forward two Liverpool players on the pitch and as far out of position as they could possibly be. With that game in particular, I think it was more glaring because Newcastle obviously are very good in transition. They get the ball forward very quickly as they did there. And then for the for the second goal, a really really good run by Willock. That was slightly different because there were players around him then even though again Gravenberch gives it away high up the pitch. There were there were players back who should have dealt with it, and ultimately a a very kind of strange scenario where there were a lot of defenders and it didn't occur to any of them to to just foul him or bring him down. They were just kind of hoping that one of them would win the ball and then obviously Frimpong's unable to to to win the ball off Willock and it's a really good finish as well. So yeah, it was it it looked a bit all over the place but and Iraola, you know, it's his first competitive game and he said afterwards that it's something that can be fixed on the training field. Maybe doesn't have to be personnel even though that was very much the the talking point afterwards. And it'll be interesting to see how he goes about fixing it. >> With the role that he played, Gravenberch has been questioned quite a bit but just two seasons ago he played in that exact same role when Liverpool won the league. So what's changed since then? >> Honestly, I I don't think as much has changed as has been made out. There's kind of this narrative that he played as a an orthodox six in that season and then last year under Arne Slot he just turned him back into a box-to-box eight and and it was a completely different role. He was definitely getting forward more often uh last season. You can see that with his with his goals. He he scored his first season at Liverpool he scored four goals under Jurgen Klopp. Obviously he hasn't played as many games but he was very much playing as an eight then when when he was signed from Bayern Munich. Uh then in the 24-25 season when he said they won the league and and he played as a six he didn't score any goals. And then last season uh when apparently he was moved into a more attacking position he scored six goals. So that kind of shows that he he was getting further forward, was getting into good areas. When you look at his heat maps from those two seasons they're not very different. It's not like he's noticeably have taken his touches higher up the pitch. I think it's more just those runs and him him knowing when he can he can go for them. He didn't really in that 24-25 season. And then he has started doing so again. Of course he did again very much on on the Sunday. In the 24-25 season I think that really stood out defensively about him was his interceptions. He was very very good at interceptions, made 60 in the Premier League that season which was at at least 11 more than any other midfielder. It dipped a bit last season. It was 48 and I think there were four midfielders who made more, but not it wasn't like halved or you know, really noticeably different. So, he was still doing that. Uh his possession one stats have remained fairly fairly consistent throughout as well. So, I think the differences are minimal considering almost the the the vast nature of the conversation around him as if like he's a completely different a player now who I think I heard someone earlier this week suggest he wants to be a 10. I don't think I think that's a bit of a stretch. I think he's just a a center midfielder who would like to dribble forward when when he can. He just needs to learn when those when those moments are suitable. >> Obviously, the big question is do Liverpool need to sign a number six or does it come down to tactics under Iraola? >> I think they'd benefit from signing just signing a defender who a defender sorry, a midfielder who has more maybe more natural defensive tendencies or or just for example, in that situation with the the Willock goal, someone who it would have been their first thought to be like I'm just bringing this guy down. That it didn't occur to any of those players is probably probably the biggest sort of alarm, I think for for Iraola in that situation. I think they need another midfielder more for the numbers than anything, but if they were to get one, it would it would definitely I think be a benefit to get someone with those those more defensive tendencies. They've obviously got Wataru Endo who who is of that mind, but he's 33, suffered quite a bit from injuries, and it it's in pretty clear that Iraola doesn't rate him that highly or doesn't doesn't rate him enough to to play him ahead of ahead of others. I mean, Lemina Kamara has been mentioned from Monaco. I think he'd be an interesting one because I'd say he's not really a proper six either if if you want to clarify what proper sixes or define what proper sixes is someone who just stands in front of the back four or like Fabinho. Obviously, that his name keep getting mentioned that Liverpool haven't replaced him. But, he is when you look at him, he's he's very front foot in terms of his defending. So, I think just having someone like that who's a bit busier and a bit more alert to danger could could possibly benefit them.