Liverpool’s midfield setup and Wirtz’s role questioned after draw with Newcastle

By Evelyn Mensah — 24 August 2026 — 4 min read

Midfield Concerns Emerge

Liverpool drew their opening Premier League fixture 2-2 against Newcastle United on Sunday. Following the match, pundit Jamie Carragher discussed the team’s midfield structure and the performance of Florian Wirtz, highlighting them as potential issues for new manager Andoni Iraola.

Carragher expressed doubts about the midfield’s functionality with the current personnel, stating that the setup does not appear to work. He noted that the problem extends beyond individual players to the tactical structure requested by the manager.

In the match at St James’ Park, Liverpool deployed Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield, with Florian Wirtz playing as a No. 10. Carragher observed that Szoboszlai frequently moved into more advanced attacking positions, rather than maintaining a double pivot.

He drew a comparison to Manchester City’s past success with a double-pivot and No. 10 formation, noting that Pep Guardiola often brought full-backs inside to support the holding midfielder against counter-attacks. Carragher indicated that Liverpool’s current setup, where both Szoboszlai and Gravenberch advanced alongside Wirtz, left the midfield vulnerable to counter-attacks from Newcastle.

Carragher described the team as highly offensive, with only the two centre-backs not primarily focused on moving forward. He also pointed out that while Iraola seemed to instruct Wirtz and Szoboszlai to mark opposition midfielders aggressively, Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk did not step up to close space, instead playing deeper. This created significant gaps in the midfield, a situation Carragher likened to issues seen at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag, where a high press was combined with a deep defensive line.

Transfer Window Scrutiny

Following the match, Carragher suggested that Liverpool needs to sign a holding midfielder to provide more defensive stability against quick breaks. He believes a new holding midfielder would allow Szoboszlai to play in the No. 10 role.

This potential change raises questions about Wirtz’s place in the team. Carragher stated he does not see a suitable role for Wirtz within Iraola’s current tactical framework at Liverpool. He questioned Wirtz’s effectiveness, citing his return of five goals and three assists in 33 Premier League appearances last season.

Carragher also commented on the substantial transfer spending by Liverpool last summer. He suggested that the transfer window from 12 months prior, which included the acquisition of Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Giovanni Leoni, might have hindered the club more than it helped. He expressed concern that this period could be viewed as one of the worst transfer windows in Premier League history, potentially setting Liverpool back for a year or two.

Carragher noted that the underperformance of many of these players over the past 12 months, with the exception of Ekitike, is a significant issue. He indicated that if player performance does not improve under Iraola in the coming months, the transfer window could be seen as a major setback, especially considering the fees involved and the club’s ambition to build a lasting successful team.

Iraola’s Perspective on the Draw

Manager Andoni Iraola expressed satisfaction with his team’s perseverance in securing a point against Newcastle United. Dominik Szoboszlai’s penalty in the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time ensured Liverpool did not leave St James’ Park without a result.

Newcastle initially took the lead through Anthony Elanga within the first five minutes. Cody Gakpo equalised after half-time, but Joe Willock quickly restored Newcastle’s advantage before Szoboszlai’s late penalty. Iraola acknowledged that while the team might not have aimed for a draw before the game, the point felt like a reward for their continuous effort and pressure against Newcastle.

Regarding the goals conceded, Iraola noted that both were transitions, which he attributed partly to Newcastle’s fast attacking players. He mentioned that for the first goal, Liverpool failed to finish a clear attacking opportunity, leading to Elanga’s goal. For the second, he felt the team had sufficient numbers to defend but did not do so effectively, suggesting a need for more aggression and better decision-making in defensive challenges.

Iraola also commented on Alexander Isak’s return to St. James’ Park, stating that Isak had contributed positively and fought throughout the game, despite not having the clearest finishing opportunities. The manager emphasized the importance of players coming off the bench to alter games, citing Victor Munoz’s impact.

Despite the defensive issues, Iraola believes the team controlled much of the game and created chances. He highlighted the need for the team to adapt to situations where players like Ryan Gravenberch push forward, emphasizing that defensive corrections involve multiple players, not just individuals. The match concluded with a 2-2 draw on Sunday, August 23, 2026.

Source: skysports.com