If that’s the case then it’s a shame there had to be a choice really because both Tyler and Trey are very bright young talents and we are short in midfield. I think I read today that McConnell to Preston has been called off by Iraola because of our light squad and also that he likes him. I’ve been unsure of McConnell but was impressed in pre-season.
1 Like
Iraola saying that we don’t need a #6 feels like someone who knows that the club isn’t planning to spend there and doesn’t see the point in making a public plea for one.
You may well be right. When did he actually say we don’t need a 6? Not questioning you, it;s just I’ve not seen that.
Full quote below. Not exactly that he doesn’t need a 6? But James Pearce quoted that Iraola said LFC doesn’t need a holding midfielder.
On how he can prevent the kind of goals Liverpool conceded…
I think it’s iust not personnel. I understand, you are telling me basically that Ryan Gravenberch is the six and he is on the edge of the box, but if he shoots and he scores we are saving what a play from Ryan Gravenberch. I also don’t want to take this from his game, but we have to adapt as a team to these situations and we have to know that these situations can happen. I think the second goal probably we did better in terms of having the numbers to defend, we don’t make the foul, go to the first challenge, probably reduce the distance with the ball carrier, so it’s an incredible goal. Situations [are] just not because one person is playing there, [it] is something that we have to correct between a lot of players.
1 Like
He doesn’t play with a specialist 6.
This is only Pearce’s interpretation but wrote this a few days ago after the jones sale
Internally, Liverpool don’t believe that a specialist No 6 is required. They point to how Iraola sets up his team to press as a unit and how in his system the midfield is not built around a Fabinho-type player providing cover and protection for the back line when others venture forward. Instead, there’s more of a collective responsibility to get up and back.
2 Likes
No scouser, no Scot. WTF is going on?!
5 Likes
Also, no English players in the starting team… especially after this match. Rio is not a proper starter yet. This only happened to us since 2025/2026.
In the past decades, this phenomenon mostly happened at Arsenal under Wenger.
2 Likes
We didn’t have any Scots for about 30 years. You can trust youngsters coming through or you don’t I do think Iraola does but many on here don’t.
3 Likes
As we saw today, the collective failed altogether for the second goal…
And?
Both Szobo and Gravenberch have the natural instinct to get forward but lacks the decision making & positioning in when and how far to push up or to stay behind
The first goal conceded happens when both Gravenberch and Szobo venture so far up into the final third that by the time the Newcastle RB gets the ball, there is no CM at the middle of the damn park, making it easy for the NUFC’s RB to pick out an easy pass to Osula.
The second conceded goal came from Gravenberch staying so far up and doing some mindless flick and loses possession. Szobo was hopelessly too far up as well and by the time he caught up with Wissa, he got on the wrong side and simply refuses to put a tackle in. By the time Wissa got made the pass, Szobo and Wirtz gave up running, gravenberch was too far to do any meaningful interception…
It is no surprise with the introduction of Koumas who filled the CAM role and the introduction of Macca into Gravenberch role that we got the platform for the equaliser. Both of them showed the fight for the ball. Macca deserves a honorable mention for the willingness to stay back and delay the opposition.
2 Likes
No it was down to one individual that allowed himself to be beaten too easily.
No on the 2nd goal Szob was goal side of Wissa with Wirtz coming from the opposite side, if Szob had been patient and held his position Wissa would have turned into him or Wirtz would have won the ball.
Szob was too eager, got too close and Wissa rolled him and Szob didn’t have the nous in the initial challenge or to pull him back.
Elanga is one of the fastest player on the league and there isn’t much Kerkez could do when his speed from stationary is not going to catch up with Elanga who is already on his bike.
Yeah…You are right on Szobo for this one when Wissa rolled him and Szobo got on the wrong side…
Talking about the 2nd goal, I actually have no blame for Kerkez apart from maybe underestimating how fast Elanga is
Szobo and Macca are both guilty of over committing and it costs us, especially on a break, someone mentioned it, maybe Sweeting, about coaching his players to hold them up, which is the correct thing to do until the team gets back in position.
2 Likes
Our own transitions also suffered from the lack of quality passing. None of our midfield could place our attackers on the run with line-breaking passes in spaces.
I agree with the Josh Williams video on the issue from last week. There are very few top drawer number sixes around of the profile we need available. To get in a proper six, we’d be dipping so far down the list it probably isn’t worth it over the players we have now.
I do not get the bring Morton back chat. He was not good enough here. We got a decent fee. He is doing well in a different, slower league. He has found his level. Simple.
Jones will be the same.