Liverpool are prioritising the signing of attacking wide players in the final few days of the summer transfer window, much to the annoyance of Jamie Carragher
Jamie Carragher
Jamie Carragher wants a new midfielder at Liverpool(Image: Sky Sports)
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Liverpool will not sign a central midfielder in the final few days of the summer transfer window, despite a passionate plea from Jamie Carragher.
The Reds kicked off their Premier League campaign with a 2-2 draw at Newcastle on Sunday. Dominik Szoboszlai's last-gasp penalty earned Andoni Iraola's side a point after conceding to Anthony Elanga and Joe Willock.
Iraola fielded Szoboszlai in midfield alongside Ryan Gravenberch at St James' Park, with Alexis Mac Allister coming off the bench in the second half. Carragher was alarmed by how open the away side were on the break, with Newcastle ripping through Liverpool's defences with their pace.
Liverpool have so far brought in defenders Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo and winger Victor Munoz this summer. They are now chasing Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh and Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola before the window closes on September 1.
The Athletic reports that, despite selling Curtis Jones to Inter Milan for £25.7million plus £4.3m in add-ons, they are not planning to bring in another midfielder. Academy graduate Trey Nyoni, 19, is considered ready to step up and add to his 20 first-team appearances.
Fellow midfielder James McConnell could be sent out on loan to the Championship to further reduce numbers in the middle of the pitch, where Wataru Endo is also available.
After tearing apart Liverpool's midfield, and particularly Gravenberch for his failure to track Willock for Newcastle's second goal, Carragher made his feelings clear on Sky Sports.
Ryan Gravenberch of Liverpool
Ryan Gravenberch's performance against Newcastle was criticised by Jamie Carragher(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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He said: “Liverpool need someone alongside Gravenberch. It doesn't necessarily need to be a player who can't get on the ball and he's just tackling and stopping players. If you play for one of the top teams in the world, you need to be able to get hold of the ball.
“But I want someone who can run. Szoboszlai has to go to the No 10. I've always seen this coming. When people are saying [Wirtz] has got to go to No 10, that means Szoboszlai's got to be in the team and he's not a central midfield player.
“I thought this would come up in six weeks, I think it's coming up right now. I don't see where he fits in at all, really. What's Iraola going to do with Wirtz? You can't keep going with it; it's not working,
“It didn't work last season. Liverpool last season conceded 78 goals, 53 in the Premier League, the most they've ever conceded in the Premier League. And all of a sudden it's all about buying wingers?"
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