The real reason Liverpool’s midfield issues have a simple fix

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If Andoni Iraola was to continue with the 4-2-3-1 formation (which he has), the issues were already present under Arne Slot in his final season.And if we're being honest, the cracks were also there towards the end of the 2024/25 season, but a generational season from Mohamed Salah papered over them.Since then, the trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have had their ups and downs. Last season, Gravenberch and Mac Allister struggled.Szoboszlai looked better than most, but it wasn't particularly difficult.What may be the issue now however, are the two big money contracts Liverpool gave to the Dutch and Hungarian midfielders.The balance between the pivots and Florian Wirtz also appears to be an issue - one which Iraola will need to figure out quickly if he wants to get the squad running smoothly.Let's unpack this mess.Problem - Profile imbalancesMany will remember the days where fans would complain about the midfield combination of Gini Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson and James Milner.Back then, they were somewhat warranted.

Mac Allister or Nyoni has to start alongside either Gravenberch or Szoboszlai if we are to see a balanced midfield for the rest of the season.Especially against teams who are more defensive, or at least happier to concede possession and forgo aggressively pressing the back-line.Solution - Szoboszlai plays at right-backIt's time for him to get off his high horse and realise this is where he will flourish.Mateus Nunes and Marcos Llorente are two prime examples of midfielders who have enjoyed a resurgence since moving slightly deeper.It's unclear what is holding the Hungarian back from committing to a position change. We'll never know.Regardless, just watching the Hungarian on Saturday, it was obvious that he would benefit from playing at full-back.He picks up the ball in similar areas Trent Alexander-Arnold used to, is a great crosser (especially from deep), and has the engine to run up and down all game long.The issue with him picking up the ball in these wider areas (as a pivot) is that if there is a transition, he is wildly out of position.

Do the players not recognise they are clogging up the pitch and making things harder for themselves?At Leverkusen, Granit Xhaka and Robert Andrich were shoring up the middle of the pitch, giving Wirtz the freedom to focus on creating and attacking.Instead, we are resigned to seeing the German dropping deep to get on the ball and carry it forwards, since Gravenberch and Szoboszlai struggle to find Liverpool's number 7 between the lines or with penetrative passes.This means Wirtz spends more time running around and tiring himself out, instead of creating opportunities for himself and Liverpool's other expensive attackers.Which is not what you want your main creative force to be doing. And yes, Nyoni is only 19, but if you're good enough, you're old enough.Mac Allister and Nyoni have shown their willingness to play the disguised, slightly more difficult, or riskier pass into Wirtz which can put Liverpool on the front-foot in an instant.Liverpool's number 42 may not quite yet be physically ready to be playing week after week, but if he is able to fill out his frame a bit more, his ceiling is very high.Starting either of these two would however mean that one of Szoboszlai or Gravenberch will get less game time than they would have been expecting.