With just over a week to go until the 2026/27 Premier League season kicks off for Liverpool at St James' Park, how are fans feeling about Andoni Iraola's squad?
So far, the Reds have bolstered the defence, bringing in defenders Jérémy Jacquet and Ronald Araújo on loan, as well as the forward line. Víctor Muñoz has arrived from Osasuna, while it seems as though Bradley Barcola will join from Paris Saint-Germain eventually.
But how about the midfield? There's been little chatter around the Reds recruiting in that area, seemingly content with what they've got, but Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher is not as convinced and yet concerned for his former club.
Speaking on the Overlap Fan Debate earlier this week, the man who has made the second-most appearances in the club's history, behind only Ian Callaghan, outlined why he is worried about Iraola's midfield balance.
"The midfield issue for me is still a huge problem for Liverpool. I watched the last two [pre-season games] against decent opponents; Leeds and then Monaco. The problem Liverpool had last season was there was space everywhere in midfield. That has not gone away at all."Jamie Carragher
The Sky Sports and CBS Sports analyst acknowledged that the number of options at Iraola's disposal is certainly not the issue. On paper, midfield appears the strongest section of this squad.
A trio of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch would surely be one of the best in Europe. However, the new head coach plans to deploy Florian Wirtz as a number ten, while the Reds' back ups include youngsters Trey Nyoni, James McConnell and Stefan Bajčetić, the returning Harvey Elliott as well as Wataru Endō and Curtis Jones, albeit the latter duo are likely to leave.
Nevertheless, Carragher is far from convinced that Iraola has got the balance right.
"It looks like they’re going to play Dominik Szoboszlai almost as a central midfield player alongside Ryan Gravenberch, rather than as a number 10, and that is just pure box-to-box.... I look at that midfield three and I worry about Liverpool. "Jamie Carragher
The 48 year old goes on to note that all of these options are "really good players", but adds "there’s almost too much quality" in that trio, given that "they all want to go and play and run", which vacates massive gaps behind. Thus, the former central defender urges Richard Hughes and his recruitment team to bring in another new signing.
"What if Gravenberch gets injured? You’re telling me that Liverpool’s central midfield will only be Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai... Ryan Gravenberch isn’t what you’d call a complete midfielder. He’s not Moisés Caicedo... we need to buy that type of player. "Jamie Carragher
Carragher concludes by asserting that, with the options Iraola currently has, that he cannot construct "a midfield three that gets Liverpool back to competing for the title", reiterating "I’m not sure about that at all".
Well, with Mac Allister having only just returned following his World Cup excretions, it is likely to be Gravenberch and Szoboszlai at the base, with Wirtz further forward on Tyneside next weekend. Perhaps this Sunday's pre-season friendly against Como at Anfield will give up some indication of whether or not this is the plan.
This, as Carragher notes, is a very attacking trio, one that could get exposed by Matthias Jaissle's new-look Newcastle United. In the early weeks of the campaign, this might just work well, considering the Reds face Nottingham Forest, newly-promoted Ipswich Town, Fulham and Bournemouth.
Their first serious Premier League test will be when Manchester City visit Anfield in early October, with a potentially challenging Champions League fixture in September too. Thus, Iraola will discover pretty quickly if he's found the right combination.
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