Liverpool’s transfer activity this summer may come as a surprise to many observers: the club actually outspent its previous campaign, pouring over £200 million into the market. Despite that hefty outlay, new manager Andoni Iraola is left with a roster that many pundits, including former Liverpool stalwart Jamie Carragher, describe as uneven and potentially problematic.
Carragher summed up the issue succinctly on Sky Sports, noting, “It does not look like a balanced squad. Liverpool are short in the full‑back areas and probably a midfield player as well.” His observation rings true even after the £123 million acquisition of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint‑Germain, a signing that, on paper, should have bolstered the attacking line but also highlights a deeper structural mismatch. Barcola’s arrival is a case in point.
Liverpool have lost arguably the best left‑footed right‑winger in Premier League history – Mohamed Salah – and the club’s response appears to be loading the opposite side of the pitch with talent. Carragher lamented, “Liverpool have not got a real out‑and‑out right‑sided attacker. We have not got anybody with a left foot on that right side, like Mo Salah. I am disappointed.
I am not quite sure what we are going to do on that right wing right now.” While Barcola is a versatile forward capable of operating across the front line, his hefty price tag suggests he should be deployed in his most natural position. Yet the current tactical set‑up seems to favour him on the left, a role already shared by Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike in recent weeks. The left flank is also crowded with players who have not consistently featured in that role.
Rio Ngumoha broke through on the left during his debut season, but preseason saw him trialled on the opposite wing. Victor Muñoz, another recent signing, arrives after a single top‑flight season as a left winger, adding to the congestion. This over‑abundance of left‑side options, contrasted with a dearth of genuine right‑footed threats on the right, underscores the squad’s asymmetry. Beyond the attack, the defensive unit raises similar questions.
When Jeremie Frimpong was secured last summer, Liverpool made it clear he was not meant to be a direct replacement for Trent Alexander‑Arnold at right‑back. Nevertheless, Frimpong has been thrust into that position in the opening two league games, largely because Conor Bradley is sidelined with injury. The club’s options are limited: Dominik Szoboszlai could be shifted, but that would be a compromise, and moving a centre‑back into a full‑back role is far from ideal in Iraola’s system, which relies heavily on the width and pace of its wing‑backs.
The importance of full‑backs in Iraola’s philosophy cannot be overstated. Both Frimpong and Milos Kerkez rank among the Premier League’s top three sprint performers this season, a statistic that mirrors the high‑intensity style of their former Bournemouth side, where Adrien Truffert – the only player ahead of them – was a key outlet. In Liverpool’s first two matches, the full‑backs were seen pushing high up the pitch, often simultaneously, leaving the centre‑backs deep and the midfield stretched thin.
This tactical arrangement creates a potential vulnerability in midfield. Ryan Gravenberch, who was instrumental in helping Arne Slot clinch the Dutch title, now finds himself in a side where the midfield’s physical presence has waned. Alexis Mac Allister, once a robust engine, has shown diminished stamina over the past 18 months.
The question looms: does Iraola have a true holding midfielder to shield the defence, or must the team rely on a high‑pressing, aggressive approach that leaves gaps behind the advancing full‑backs? Carragher voiced his doubts early in the season, stating, “I do not believe that midfield can function with the personnel in there. For me, it does not work. And it is not just about personnel, it is the structure the manager is asking for.” His concerns were validated within five minutes of Liverpool’s opening Premier League fixture, when Newcastle exploited the space between the high‑up full‑backs and the deep centre‑backs, scoring the decisive goal.
Virgil van Dijk’s tendency to drop deeper only amplifies the issue, as the team lacks a midfielder capable of bridging the distance quickly enough to prevent counter‑attacks. The current squad, while the most expensive Liverpool has ever assembled, also appears to be the most unbalanced in a decade. Finding a remedy may not involve further spending. Compromise will be essential.
Carragher suggested, “You do not want to lose the offensive side, the fluidity, the arrivals with numbers, but obviously we were punished the other day, especially in the first goal. We did not do a proper lockdown. But there is a balance. We cannot go from one way where we send a lot of people forward to keeping everyone back so we do not arrive with numbers.” He emphasised the need for players who can read the game and decide when to stay back, saying, “It is a matter of identifying the situation.
You cannot be with the joystick every time. There are players that are very good at smelling the danger. ‘I cannot risk going now.
I think I have to stay.’ Recognising those situations is the job.” At present, a couple of high‑scoring draws may be an acceptable outcome for this Liverpool side. Their attacking talents could still overwhelm opponents on their day, but the structural weaknesses identified by analysts could also prove costly over a long season. In short, Liverpool have assembled an exciting, yet imperfect, squad – one that dazzles in attack but may struggle to maintain defensive solidity without tactical adjustments or strategic player rotations.