Richard Hughes left Liverpool with the parting gift of big contracts for two senior midfielders, but the deals may have actually caused more problems than they have solved.
Liverpool’s dismal 2025/26 campaign held very few positives, but in the end, they qualified for the Champions League thanks to a large dose of luck and a huge contribution from Dominik Szoboszlai.
Stepping up when others were down, the Hungarian’s goals and free-kicks got the Reds over the line and he was thus rewarded with a long-term contract that runs until 2031.
Ryan Gravenberch had not been as good but, like Szoboszlai, his deal was expiring in 2028 and Liverpool deemed it the right time to tie him up until 2032.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 8, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates with team-mates Milos Kerkez and Ryan Gravenberch (R) after scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 8, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates with team-mates Milos Kerkez and Ryan Gravenberch (R) after scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Both are now paid roughly £300,000 per week, placing them among the squad’s top earners.
However, with their performances taking a dip under new boss Andoni Iraola, Liverpool have been left with a very expensive midfield duo who arguably aren’t in the best XI.
The Dominik Szoboszlai Enigma
There were very few complaints when, with rumours circling of interest from Madrid, Szoboszlai signed his new deal in July.
The midfielder is 25 years old and clearly very keen to grow into a key figure at the club.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpools Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates after scoring the third goal during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 3-1.(Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpools Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates after scoring the third goal during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 3-1.(Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Having been promoted to the role of co-vice captain, he has repeatedly spoken about his ambition to one day succeed Virgil van Dijk as skipper.
Supporters will have their own opinions on his suitability to wear the armband, but whatever your thoughts, if he isn’t in the team, the argument becomes irrelevant.
At the moment, the evidence we can see on the pitch suggests that he is not suited to Iraola’s style.
On the surface, he has carried last season’s form into the new campaign, scoring three goals including a stunning hit against Tottenham at Anfield.
The Hungarian has produced some of the most sublime strikes to ever grace Anfield, but his all-round play has become a worry.
The Carabao Cup clash with Tottenham acted as a great example of his problems at present.
After Trey Nyoni and James McConnell made way for Gravenberch and Szoboszlai just after the hour mark, Liverpool looked considerably less assured in the middle.
While the driving rain didn’t help, Liverpool began to give the ball away more often and Tottenham found more spaces to attack.
The other games in which the Reds have started the pair together this season, against Newcastle and Fulham, have followed a similar pattern.
They simply don’t look suited to being the tempo-dictating playmakers that Iraola wants.
The argument for Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
With Liverpool missing Conor Bradley due to injury and Jeremie Frimpong clearly not performing at the level required, Iraola has turned to versatile defender Ronald Araujo at right-back.
So far, he has done a great job, but he doesn’t offer much of a threat in attack.
One of the suggested solutions has been to play Szoboszlai at right-back – and it does make sense.
His job would be simplified; he could get into areas regularly to whip balls in with his great right foot. He also has the energy and physicality to get up and down consistently.
If Szoboszlai’s presence in midfield is hampering the team, positioning him at right-back could be a way to keep him playing regularly.
However, neither the coach nor the player seem keen to make it happen.
Ryan Gravenberch’s qualities aren’t currently suited to Iraola
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Gravenberch is among the best ball-carriers around, but he is really underperforming and lacks the end product, perhaps the passing ability too, to zip passes into feet like Mac Allister.
Meanwhile, Szoboszlai has the technical ability to play these passes but appears to lack the in-game intelligence to play them regularly.
Going backwards, too, there are issues.
The 19-year-old, Nyoni, looks far more adept at sniffing out danger and keeping play moving than either of the senior pair.
Gravenberch did play as the sole holding midfielder when Liverpool won the league, but he was very much reined in and usually didn’t stray ahead of the ball.
Since being given more freedom to get forward, his defensive nous has been lacking.
Andoni Iraola left under pressure from big contracts
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola speaks with Ryan Gravenberch during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. Leeds won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola speaks with Ryan Gravenberch during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. Leeds won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It is hoped that with time and coaching, Iraola can mould Gravenberch and Szoboszlai into midfielders capable of providing an effective base for the attack.
And Liverpool’s directors will be hoping so, too. The club currently have two very expensive assets who are looking increasingly out of place.
Of course, the new contracts do serve to increase their transfer value, but it was still a questionable decision to award such huge wages without first seeing them play for Iraola, especially given they still had two years remaining on their deals.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, September 9, 2026: Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Liverpool FC and Atlético Madrid at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, September 9, 2026: Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Liverpool FC and Atlético Madrid at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Whether Hughes was solely responsible for the new contracts, we don’t know, but as the sporting director, it is fair to say he would have had a large say in proceedings
He has left Iraola under pressure to include two high-earning midfielders, when the coach would probably prefer to play better-suited, less senior figures, such as Nyoni.
It is a tough position for the new manager.
Let’s hope he is ruthless and does only what he believes is most likely to win Liverpool three points of a weekend.
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CHICAGO, USA - Friday, July 31, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz during an open training session at the Endeavor Health Performance Center ahead of their final pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
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German players celebrate after scoring during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Germany and Curacao in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026. Florian Wirtz (AP Photo/Eric Gay)