An international break version of Liverpool Scouted Weekly imagines the pros of Andoni Iraola replacing Milos Kerkez with Joe Gomez in the starting XI and a new defensive midfield target
Joe Gomez
Milos Kerkez could be replaced in the Liverpool XI for Joe Gomez(Image: Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has already opted for a major tactical tweak this season: He's swapped marquee 2025 summer signing Jeremie Jaquet for 2026 emergency loan option Ronald Araujo at right-back.
The Spanish manager is inheriting a Liverpool side that just set a club record for the most goals conceded in a single Premier League season. The first two league matches — chaotic 2-2 draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest — offered little evidence of a chance.
The move for Araujo has helped, but more needs to be done; Iraola especially must improve the one-on-one quality in the squad. Enter Joe Gomez at left-back, and in January, Lamina Camara in defensive midfield.
On this edition of Liverpool Scouted Weekly, a detailed look at Andoni Iraola’s tactics, scouting analysis on Reds’ transfer targets, and an examination of Liverpool youth standouts.
Joe Gomez, the left-back?
Gomez played 45 minutes for Liverpool in last Wednesday’s League Cup win against Tottenham, starting the first half at left center-back next to Ronald Araujo.
When fit (rare), the 29-year-old has been deployed practically everywhere for Liverpool during his 11-year tenure at the club. In 2017/18, he rotated at right-back with a teenage Trent Alexander-Arnold. A year later, he was the right CB pair to Virgil van Dijk.
In 2020/21, he was briefly the left CB when Van Dijk tore his ACL. In 2023/24, he played first at left-back — a position he made the 2024 England Euro team for — and even in defensive midfield.
Joe Gomez
Joe Gomez earned his first half of gametime against Tottenham in the League Cup(Image: Getty Images)
Jamie Carragher called starting left-back — already dropped on one occasion by Iraola for Kostas Tsimikas — the “Darwin Nunez of full-backs.”
Replacing the undersized, unskillful Frimpong at right back for Araujo has yielded three straight Premier League clean sheets. Playing Araujo, at the very least, allows Iraola to play a surrogate back three when the attacking left back (Kerkez or Tsimikas) drifts up the left wing.
But it’s not like Kerkez is creating anything in those opportunities: he’s yet to create a big chance, is at 0.4 key passes per contest, and boasts a cross accuracy percentage of 23 percent. Hardly Andy Robertson numbers.
Lamine Camara
Lamine Camara has been a rock for Monaco this season(Image: Getty Images)
Iraola should gamble on further defensive solidity around a miscast midfield by inserting Gomez, who’ll create as much as Kerkez, from left back. At the very least, he’ll greatly improve the side’s one-on-one defending.
Transfer target: Lamine Camara
Chelsea was less than an hour from securing the transfer of 22-year-old Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara for £47 million ($62 million). Now, he remains on the market and is squarely a Reds target.
The Senegalese international has started all five Ligue 1 games for the principality club. The primary right central defensive midfielder is a tackle monster: he’s averaging an absurd 5.2 per contest, winning over two-thirds of his ground duels. In fact, he leads the big five European leagues in total domestic league tackles.
That wouldn’t be enough for Liverpool alone. Camara is now much more involved in the Monaco buildup, averaging over 10 passes more per 90 minutes. If the creative numbers catch up — he’s at just 0.6 key passes per match — he’ll be a capable starting midfielder on a Premier League side.
Camara could ideally partner Alexis Mac Allister, who played next to classical DM Wataru Endo in 2024, in an ideal starting XI.