There was never any expectation that Andoni Iraola would walk through the Anfield gates to find a depleted squad but here we are. Replacing a legacy is hard enough; building a side capable of executing one of European football’s most aggressive pressing systems without the requisite tools is near impossible.
Yet, with under three weeks until Liverpool kick off their Premier League campaign against Newcastle United at St James Park, the reality facing the new head coach is becoming increasingly stark.
Seven goals conceded across three pre-season fixtures capped off by a jarring 4-2 defeat to Leeds United on Sunday has laid bare the structural vulnerability at the heart of Iraola’s side.
Against Leeds, Iraola was forced to field a central defensive unit featuring youngsters Ifeanyi Ndukwe, Luke Chambers, and Mor Talla Ndiaye. While young talent stepping up is always a welcome sight for the Reds, relying on academy products in early August highlights an uncomfortable truth: Liverpool’s engine room at the back is currently running on empty.
Glaring gaps behind the attack: Hughes under scrutiny
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For sporting director Richard Hughes, the clock is ticking loudly. Much of Liverpool’s summer bandwidth has been absorbed by high-profile pursuits further up the pitch namely Yan Diomande, who ultimately turned down a move to Merseyside, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola, where negotiations remain locked in a valuation stalemate.
While context matters in any transfer window, the laser focus on attacking reinforcement has left Liverpool dangerously exposed at the back following [Ibrahima Konate’s](https://live4liverpool.com/real-madrid-and-ibrahima-konate-reach-verbal-agreement-for-2026-free-transfer/) high-profile departure to Real Madrid.
The current availability list makes for grim reading:
* **Virgil van Dijk:** The 35-year-old skipper remains the sole fully fit senior centre-back, coming off a grueling 2025/26 campaign where he played every single Premier League minute.
* **Joe Gomez:** Sidelined following a setback in the pre-season opener against Sunderland.
* **Jeremy Jacquet:** Nursing a minor injury and yet to feature.
* **Giovanni Leoni:** Continuing a lengthy rehabilitation from the ACL injury that halted his previous season.
* **Conor Bradley:** Facing another spell on the sidelines, continuing a frustrating pattern of fitness interruptions.
* **Ifeanyi Ndukwe:** Despite turning heads in pre-season, work permit restrictions mean a loan departure is the most likely outcome.
Enter Fikayo Tomori: An opportunity in Milan?
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With the September 1 deadline rapidly approaching, Liverpool have begun exploring potential solutions on the continent. [Reports from Italy](https://www.tuttojuve.com/calciomercato/liverpool-tomori-entra-mirino-reds-primi-contatti-milan-787428) indicate that Liverpool have initiated exploratory, club-to-club contact with AC Milan to determine the feasibility of a deal for England international Fikayo Tomori.
**Why Tomori fits the Iraola Blueprint**
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* **Recovery Pace:** Possesses the elite speed required to sweep behind a high defensive line.
* **Big-Match Proven:** 214 appearances for AC Milan, a Serie A title in 2022, and Supercoppa Italiana silverware in 2025.
* **Contract Status:** Entering the final year of his current deal in Milan, presenting a potential value opportunity in an otherwise inflated market.
Tomori, 28, logged 33 Serie A starts in 2025/26, establishing himself as a reliable pillar in Northern Italy after leaving Chelsea in 2021. While talks are at an initial stage and financial parameters are still being weighed, Tomori represents the profile of player Liverpool urgently require: a battle-tested defender with Champions League lineage who can step straight into the XI.
patience is giving way to urgency. Supporters recognise the tactical ambition Iraola brings, but there is a growing consensus that the hierarchy must match that ambition in the market before the window snaps shut.
Patching together makeshift backlines during pre-season is one thing; navigating a Premier League schedule with a threadbare defence is another entirely. If Hughes can wrap up a move for a defender of Tomori’s calibre alongside a frontline winger, this window can still be hailed a success.
If not, Iraola risks starting his Anfield tenure with one hand tied behind his back.