Liverpool began the Andoni Iraola era with a 2-2 draw at Newcastle United in their Premier League opener on Sunday. A 99th-minute penalty equaliser from Dominik Szoboszlai secured a point, but the performance highlighted improvements needed both on the training field and in the transfer market.
Barcola deal edges closer
The Reds have moved closer to sealing a blockbuster deal for Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain, which looks set to see the club pay a £100m+ fee for the third time in two summers. With five days left until the window closes, Barcola cannot be the only business done by Liverpool, who play their first home match of the campaign on Saturday against Nottingham Forest.
Fans' jury member James Noble said Sunday's lively draw at Newcastle certainly looked like a Premier League opener that Iraola and his team could take plenty of valuable information from. He noted encouraging elements, including Liverpool appearing better set to impose themselves, while forcing that late equaliser bodes well persistence-wise. Concerns over midfield balance, turnovers and decision making also make sense, but the Tyneside experiences offer routes to improvement.
Defensive concerns raised
Matt Whitty argued the two goals Liverpool conceded exposed two different problems. Iraola could adjust the shape after the first, but better positioning only gets you so far. For Newcastle's first goal, Ryan Gravenberch had carried Liverpool forward but chose the wrong option on the edge of the box and gave the ball away. For the second goal, Yoane Wissa was still allowed to waltz through Florian Wirtz, Gravenberch and Szoboszlai without anyone making the tackle or taking the foul.
Whitty added that even if Liverpool signed a No.6, this would still be a collective responsibility. A specialist could add balance and free up the more creative players, but everyone still has to recognise danger and stop it. "Iraola can fix the shape. The players have to supply the edge," he said.
Frustration over transfer approach
Rhys Buchanan said the club's handling of business this window is starting to look increasingly erratic, with dialogues with the likes of Yankuba Minteh and Ismaila Sarr close to the deadline feeling slightly last-gasp and desperate. He noted the need for a rapid winger has been known since Luis Diaz left, and seeing Florian Wirtz looking like he'd seen a ghost on the bench left him feeling completely deflated.
Buchanan was impressed by Lewis Koumas and Victor Munoz, who salvaged a point, but said the lack of options off the bench is currently very worrying. He was also frustrated by Jamie Carragher's comments on Monday Night Football about last summer being the worst transfer window ever, saying such comments will only pile more pressure on the manager and squad.
