Liverpool's 2-2 draw at St James' Park on Sunday has once again highlighted the team's midfield fragility, particularly when out of possession. Newcastle capitalised on two instances where Liverpool lost the ball in attacking areas, leading to devastating counter-attacks.
The first goal came just 11 seconds after Ryan Gravenberch lost possession on the edge of the Newcastle box, with Anthony Elanga scoring. A similar scenario in the second half saw Gravenberch dispossessed again, leading to Joe Willock's goal.
Head coach Andoni Iraola suggested after the match that the issue was not simply about the players selected, stating, "I think it's just not personnel." However, statistics showed Alexis Mac Allister, who came on for Florian Wirtz, made two tackles and won 80% of his duels, compared to zero tackles and lower duel success rates for Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Despite the defensive concerns, Liverpool's transfer focus for the remainder of the window remains on wide attacking players. While they would consider a midfield opportunity if it arose, Iraola is reportedly satisfied with his current midfield depth, which includes Wataru Endo, Trey Nyoni, and James McConnell as backup options.