Former defender Jamie Carragher has warned that Liverpool will struggle to compete for the Premier League title due to persistent weaknesses in midfield. The club is currently transitioning to manager Andoni Iraola following a disappointing fifth-place finish in the 2025-26 season.
The fallout from Liverpool's fifth-place finish in 2025-26
The current instability at Liverpool follows a dramatic swing in fortunes. After securing the league title in 2024-25, the club suffered a significant regression the following year, finishing fifth in 2025-26. This slump led to the sacking of manager Arne Slot and the appointment of Andoni Iraola to steer the club back toward the summit of English football.
This period of volatility has been compounded by the loss of key pillars in the squad. According to the report, Liverpool has since lost the services of star forward Mohamed Salah and defender Ibrahima Konate, leaving Andoni Iraola with the difficult task of rebuilding the team's core while attempting to maintain a title-contending standard.
Why the Szoboszlai-Gravenberch-Mac Allister trio lacks balance
Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, Jamie Carragher argued that the current personnel in the center of the park are fundamentally mismatched. while he acknowledges that players like Ryan Gravenberch , Florian Wirtz, and Dominik Szoboszlai are top-tier talents, he believes their collective instincts are too similar. Carragher noted that these players all possess a desire to "play and run," which creates a vacuum in the defensive transition.
A specific point of contention is the deployment of Dominik Szoboszlai. As reported, Carragher believes that playing Szoboszlai as a central midfielder alongside Ryan Gravenberch—rather than in a number 10 role—results in a "pure box-to-box" setup. This tactical choice , according to Carragher, leaves the Liverpool squad too open and vulnerable to counter-attacks .
Araujo and Munoz arrive, but the 'number six' remains missing
Liverpool has been active in the transfer market to bolser the squad for Andoni Iraola, bringing in Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo and winger Victor Munoz. additionally, the squad has been joined by Jeremy Jacquet following a move from Rennes that was finalized in January. However, these additions focus on the flanks and the backline rather than the engine room.
Jamie Carragher has explicitly called for the recruitment of an "out-and-out number six" to provide the solidity and depth required for a title charge. Without a dedicated defensive anchor, Carragher suggests that the high energy of the current midfield will continue to be a liability rather than an asset .
Lessons from the Leeds and Monaco friendlies before the Como clash
The concerns regarding Liverpool's structural integrity are not merely theoretical; they have manifested in recent exhibition matches. Jamie Carragher observed that in the last two pre-season games against Leeds and Monaco, the problem of "space everywhere in midfield" remained unresolved. This suggests that the tactical flaws from the 2025-26 campaign are persisting under the new management.
With a pre-season record of two wins and two losses, Liverpool is preparing for a final warm-up match against Como this weekend. the primary question remaining is whether Andoni Iraola can find a way to balance the attacking instincts of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Ryan Gravenberch without a new signing, or if the club will be forced back into the market to avoid another mid-table finish.
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