Liverpool rescued a 99th-minute draw away at Newcastle United to avoid starting the Andoni Iraola era with defeat at St James' Park, but the performance exposed several areas of concern. The Reds were twice undone by counter-attacks and looked set to lose on the opening weekend of the Premier League season until a last-gasp penalty.
Anthony Elanga put the Magpies in front after only five minutes on Tyneside. Cody Gakpo scored a long-range equaliser, but Joe Willock restored the lead for the hosts a mere 120 seconds later. Substitute Victor Munoz won a penalty from a clumsy Lewis Hall challenge deep into stoppage time, and Dominik Szoboszlai lashed in a spectacular spot-kick to rescue a point.
Right-back and left-back concerns
Jeremie Frimpong has been at Liverpool for 12 months, and his only highlights have come in attack. He is pacey, which can be an asset in some instances, but he is not good enough on the defensive side of the game, and his deliveries here were dire. As a back-up right winger or a right-back option in home games against teams who will park the bus, Frimpong is fine. In away games, he is not, as this game proved. Liverpool need an upgrade, especially with Conor Bradley unlikely to play again for several months and Joe Gomez also regularly unavailable.
The hope was that Iraola's appointment could unlock the best of Milos Kerkez. If Liverpool can expect a season full of performances like this, then left-back is an area of massive concern. Kostas Tsimikas is the main back-up to Kerkez, but the Greek will never displace his team-mate as a starter. He has never been at the level to start consistently for Liverpool. Selling Tsimikas and signing a more experienced, calm-headed left-back who can push Kerkez would be a big help to Iraola. It could be argued they should not have let Andy Robertson leave.
Midfield and right-wing gaps
A two-man midfield pivot of Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai is asking for trouble. Neither is inclined to defend. That was shown when they were the two furthest forward Liverpool players on the pitch as Newcastle launched their counter to make it 1-0 so early on. Szoboszlai is a willing presser but lacks the necessary discipline to be at his best in a pivot. Gravenberch's positioning off the ball and passing are also below par. Liverpool will concede many counter-attack goals unless they recruit a midfielder capable of covering ground and winning the ball back consistently. Brentford's Ibrahim Sangare looks like he would have been perfect, but Monaco's Lamine Camara is an alternative option.
Rio Ngumoha is a young player of huge talent, but he is not a right-sided winger. The teenager failed to complete a dribble and had just one touch in the opposition box. His one shot was blocked. Ngumoha's best asset is his ability to cut in and go directly at his man on his stronger right foot, which is why he plays from the left. On the opposite side, Liverpool need an attacker who can come inside and be a threat on his left foot. Yankuba Minteh is left-footed and gettable before the deadline but will not be fit to play until at least October.
