Liverpool were lucky to salvage a 2-2 draw with Newcastle United after going 1-0 down and then 2-1 down later in the game, with Dominik Szoboszlai scoring a penalty in the 98th minute to rescue a late point.
The game was a collection of issues from a Liverpool perspective, but the midfield was particularly worrying, which makes reports that the Reds have no plans to make a midfield signing all the more distressing.
In a clip that only lasts 1 minute, 13 seconds, Daniel Sturridge perfectly summed up how I feel about Liverpool’s midfield and the weird avoidance the club has towards signing a defensive midfielder.
Sturridge said: “I think the team needs a defensive midfielder, personally. We’ve been talking about a defensive midfielder at Liverpool for the last three years and I think Gravenberch coming into the team, playing consistently at Liverpool, winning the Premier League, sort of changed that philosophy.
“But if you actually analysed the midfield, they’re all naturally more attacking players. For instance, if you look at someone like Brentford, they brought in Sangare, right?
“If you look at his stats, they jump out of the page. Third in interceptions, third in tackles, third in possession recovered [In Ligue 1]. I can’t remember how much it was, £39m or so.
“You sort of think to yourself, that’s not a load of money for someone like Liverpool. I’m not suggesting that he was the man, but the stats jump out the page and you think Liverpool don’t have that profile of player right now. Trey Nyoni, I really like him as a player, think he’s brilliant, he’s more of a ball-playing No.6, a ball-playing No.8. He’s not a destroyer, he’s not going to strike fear into the opposition like a Sangare can.
“I also think that Szoboszlai is also better as a No.10.”
Daniel Sturridge said Liverpool need to sign a defensive midfielder.
via @SkySportsNews pic.twitter.com/ZF0vecgyED
— Anfield Sector (@AnfieldSector) August 23, 2026
Liverpool’s midfield remains unbalanced – there’s just a different manager in charge now
We saw it last season under Arne Slot, and we’re seeing at again now under Andoni Iraola – the balance of profiles in Liverpool’s midfield is an absolute mess.
And now they’re also a man light after Curtis Jones was allowed to leave to join Inter Milan.
Liverpool will get dominated and overrun in the midfield all season if something doesn’t change before the end of the summer.