All summer long there were concerns regarding the profiles present in Liverpool's midfield.
Especially amongst the starters. If Andoni Iraola was to continue with the 4-2-3-1 formation (which he has), the issues were already present under Arne Slot in his final season.
And if we're being honest, the cracks were also there towards the end of the 2024/25 season, but a generational season from Mohamed Salah papered over them.
Since then, the trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have had their ups and downs. Last season, Gravenberch and Mac Allister struggled.
Szoboszlai looked better than most, but it wasn't particularly difficult.
What may be the issue now however, are the two big money contracts Liverpool gave to the Dutch and Hungarian midfielders.
The balance between the pivots and Florian Wirtz also appears to be an issue - one which Iraola will need to figure out quickly if he wants to get the squad running smoothly.
Let's unpack this mess.
Problem - Profile imbalances
Many will remember the days where fans would complain about the midfield combination of Gini Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson and James Milner.
Back then, they were somewhat warranted. But what we would do now for those types of players behind Wirtz.
Liverpool's number 38 and 8 struggle to see the bigger picture during matches at times. They both like to roam and drift across the pitch, but this doesn't work when Wirtz likes to do the same thing.
This issue isn't as glaring when Szoboszlai is paired with Mac Allister, as the Argentinian doesn't mind sitting back and doing the dirty work when is necessary.
This is what Liverpool are missing - true workhorses who will do anything for the team, not just themselves.
It can feel at times that both Gravenberch and Szoboszlai want the glory that comes with getting the assist or goal. But there are four players in front of them who are better suited to that part of the game.
There's not an issue per se with them being a part of the build-up, obviously. But at times it can feel as if they are avoiding Wirtz for their own selfish reasons. This one might need some extra evidence.
Nevertheless, the combination of the Dutchman and Hungarian has been tried twice now, and it hasn't worked either time.
Mac Allister or Nyoni has to start alongside either Gravenberch or Szoboszlai if we are to see a balanced midfield for the rest of the season.
Especially against teams who are more defensive, or at least happier to concede possession and forgo aggressively pressing the back-line.
Solution - Szoboszlai plays at right-back
It's time for him to get off his high horse and realise this is where he will flourish.
Mateus Nunes and Marcos Llorente are two prime examples of midfielders who have enjoyed a resurgence since moving slightly deeper.
It's unclear what is holding the Hungarian back from committing to a position change. Pride? Selfishness? Embarrassment?
Liverpool's number 8 recently admitted to Steven Gerrard for TNT Sports that Iraola "made it clear one time that I'm not going to play right-back, which meant a lot to me.
"But if he needs me there obviously I'm going to be available."
He obviously doesn't want to feature much there going forward. Was that part of contract talks? We'll never know.
Regardless, just watching the Hungarian on Saturday, it was obvious that he would benefit from playing at full-back.
He picks up the ball in similar areas Trent Alexander-Arnold used to, is a great crosser (especially from deep), and has the engine to run up and down all game long.
The issue with him picking up the ball in these wider areas (as a pivot) is that if there is a transition, he is wildly out of position. Leaving the Reds very exposed on the counter, or at least easy to play through.
However, if he is the starting right-back, this threat is almost completely nullified by the presence of the two, more disciplined, midfielders.
He would also get more time on the ball in these positions, as most wingers are lazy with pressing, and full-backs are more occupied with their wingers. Win-win.
This would be the case especially against teams like Fulham, who were happy to sit a bit deeper and avoid pressing from the front.
It feels like the Hungarian holds a stigma around the full-back position. But after seeing how successful Alexander-Arnold was there, why wouldn't he want to give it more of a try?
Problem - Wirtz runs too much and doesn't receive the ball in the right areas
The German flourished at Bayer Leverkusen when given the space to operate in attacking areas. There was a point in the game against Fulham where him, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch were all in the same space.
It makes no sense. Do the players not recognise they are clogging up the pitch and making things harder for themselves?
At Leverkusen, Granit Xhaka and Robert Andrich were shoring up the middle of the pitch, giving Wirtz the freedom to focus on creating and attacking.
Instead, we are resigned to seeing the German dropping deep to get on the ball and carry it forwards, since Gravenberch and Szoboszlai struggle to find Liverpool's number 7 between the lines or with penetrative passes.
This means Wirtz spends more time running around and tiring himself out, instead of creating opportunities for himself and Liverpool's other expensive attackers.
Which is not what you want your main creative force to be doing. At Liverpool, Salah was both creator and goalscorer, and was given the liberty of less expectations when it came to defensive duties.
Wirtz needs to be the same, and this will only come with a midfield pairing behind him he knows that can make up for it.
Having a pair of midfielders unafraid to find him in the pockets of space he navigates for himself would help immensely too.
Solution - Mac Allister or Nyoni have to start
The Argentine has improved immensely following last season. And yes, Nyoni is only 19, but if you're good enough, you're old enough.
Mac Allister and Nyoni have shown their willingness to play the disguised, slightly more difficult, or riskier pass into Wirtz which can put Liverpool on the front-foot in an instant.
Liverpool's number 42 may not quite yet be physically ready to be playing week after week, but if he is able to fill out his frame a bit more, his ceiling is very high.
Starting either of these two would however mean that one of Szoboszlai or Gravenberch will get less game time than they would have been expecting.
But if they are unable to adapt tactically, positionally or mentally, then they may have to accept it.
Football is ruthless, and Iraola has shown that he can be as well. The Basque head-coach has shown he is unafraid to drop players who are underperforming.
If both Wirtz and Nyoni start against Spurs it will be interesting to see how they complement each other (or don't). It's an experiment worth taking, especially in the Carabao Cup.
The Reds will have to prioritise this season. The squad isn't big enough to handle four different competitions, and it could be that the league cup is the one that is sacrificed in the name of tinkering.
Whatever happens, there is a need for patience from everyone. Last season set the squad back monumentally, and in ways we may never find out.
It is now up to Iraola and the players to prove why they deserve to be at Liverpool Football Club.
The Reds are next in action against Tottenham, tomorrow at 8pm BST.
Add us as a preferred source on Google