Liverpool supporters have spent much of the summer asking the same question:
Where is the new No.6?
With Curtis Jones now leaving for Inter and concerns about the depth in midfield, many fans have been calling for Liverpool to sign a specialist defensive midfielder who can sit in front of the defence and provide protection.
But according to James Pearce, that isn’t how Liverpool see things internally.
The club reportedly don’t believe a specialist No.6 is required.
And the reason comes down to one man.
Andoni Iraola.
Iraola’s system changes everything
Liverpool aren’t trying to recreate the way Jürgen Klopp’s team used to play.
Iraola wants his midfield to operate as a unit.
Rather than relying on one player to sit deep and constantly protect the centre-backs, Liverpool’s midfielders are expected to press together, move together and recover together.
It’s a collective responsibility.
When one player goes forward, another doesn’t necessarily have to sit in exactly the same position for 90 minutes.
The whole team has to react.
That requires intelligence, discipline and an enormous amount of physical effort.
It’s not about finding the next Fabinho
This is probably the biggest difference.
For years, Liverpool had Fabinho.
When the Brazilian was at his best, he provided an outstanding shield in front of the defence.
He could read danger, break up attacks and allow Liverpool’s other midfielders to push forward.
But Iraola’s system doesn’t appear to be built around finding another player capable of doing exactly the same job.
Instead, Liverpool want collective defensive responsibility.
If the team loses the ball, everyone reacts.
If the press is triggered, everyone moves.
If the opposition breaks through, everyone has to recover.
That is a very different philosophy.
👀 Does that mean Liverpool don’t need another midfielder?
Not necessarily.
This is the important distinction.
Liverpool might not believe they need a specialist No.6, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t benefit from another midfielder.
There is a huge difference between saying:
“We don’t need a defensive midfielder.”
and:
“We don’t need another midfielder.”
Following Jones’ departure, I’d still argue that Liverpool need more depth.
The season is long.
There will be injuries.
There will be suspensions.
There will be Champions League games followed by difficult Premier League fixtures.
And Iraola’s style is physically demanding.
The midfield has to be able to run
This could explain why Liverpool aren’t desperately searching for a traditional holding midfielder.
If Iraola wants his midfielders constantly pressing and recovering, he needs players who can cover ground.
Mac Allister.
Gravenberch.
Szoboszlai.
And potentially younger players such as Trey Nyoni.
The midfield isn’t necessarily about having one player whose job is to stay behind everyone else.
It’s about having three players who understand when to go and when to recover.
This could make Liverpool more difficult to play against
There is an exciting side to this.
If Liverpool get it right, their midfield could become incredibly difficult for opponents to play through.
Imagine losing the ball and immediately having three midfielders pressing rather than one player trying to stop the counter-attack.
The opposition doesn’t get time to settle.
They don’t get time to turn.
They don’t get an easy pass into midfield.
That’s clearly what Iraola wants.
But it requires everyone to buy into the system.
There is still a risk
And this is where my concern remains.
A collective defensive system only works if the whole team performs its responsibilities.
One player switches off and suddenly there can be a huge hole.
One player doesn’t recover quickly enough and the centre-backs are exposed.
That’s why Liverpool’s fitness levels and tactical discipline are going to be so important.
Iraola has already admitted that Liverpool still need to improve their fitness, particularly in second halves, and that maintaining concentration when players aren’t fresh is an area they must work on.
So there is still plenty to develop.
I can understand Liverpool’s thinking
I’m actually quite interested by this approach.
Liverpool shouldn’t sign a player simply because supporters believe they need a traditional No.6.
If Iraola genuinely believes his system doesn’t require one, the recruitment should support his football rather than force him into somebody else’s system.
But I would still like another midfielder through the door.
Not necessarily a Fabinho replacement.
Not necessarily a specialist defensive midfielder.
Just another quality player capable of contributing to Iraola’s system.
And that’s the key.
Liverpool don’t necessarily need another Fabinho.
They need another midfielder who can run, press, pass, recover and understand the collective responsibilities Iraola demands.
If the club genuinely believe they have enough options internally, then we have to trust the manager.
But if Liverpool want to compete on all four fronts, I still think squad depth will eventually become an issue.
Iraola’s system may not need a specialist No.6.
But Liverpool still need enough midfielders to make that system work for an entire season.
And with Curtis Jones leaving, that is something I will be watching very closely.
Source: James Pearce
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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