Iraola: ‘In midfield we have good numbers’
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - AUGUST 23: Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool and Andoni Iraola, Manager of Liverpool on the pitch after the Premier League 2026/27 match between Newcastle United and Liverpool FC at St James' Park on August 23, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola discussed defensive and midfield options available to him in the Liverpool roster.
Though Liverpool bought Bradley Barcola, their fans will not ignore the apparent holes in their lineup. Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong feel like weaknesses at full-back, while Curtis Jones joined Inter Milan and removed another option from a midfield that could do with reconstruction.
Versatility as the answer
However, Iraola is not allowing himself to believe that the team cannot cope with the challenges to come — and he used the club's Player of the Season to showcase the argument he tried to make.
“If we have to play [* ***Dominik Szoboszlai** ] as a right winger, as a right-back, as a left-back, I think he's ready to do it. I think he wants to help the team first. I think it's good also to have players who can cover different positions, especially now that we have some injuries and probably we need this versatility of the players. Having players like Dom for me is very valuable because even in-game they allow me to change their positions.
“The challenge now in our squad is that we have now, for example, you asked me for the right-back, so we don't have Conor Bradley right now, we don't have Joe Gomez right now. Definitely we look thin, yes. But if you take two players from every position injured, you will look thin always. And now we are in that situation. That's why I value Dom that can play right-back, Ronald Araujo that can also play right-back.
“This versatility in the players helps us to go through these moments in the season where we will have injuries - and now it's the right-back. But maybe in two months we are talking about other positions. Then for me it's very valuable to have players who can cover us during these moments where we are thin in certain positions, like it can be the right-back right now, yes.
Confidence in the midfield options
“I think in midfield we have good numbers. Now it's a matter of getting the right calls from my side. I learn every game, I coach these players, I learn a lot and finding now the best combinations.
“Now we are going to go in a period of these next two weeks where we are going to play a lot of games, we will have the chance to see all the options we have, the combinations, who plays well with the other. I think it's a matter of coaching and taking the decisions. But we have the numbers there.”