EXCLUSIVE: Former Liverpool midfielder Paul Ince on Andoni Iraola's set-up at Anfield, and why Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch got what Alexis Mac Allister didn't
Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz.
Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz.(Image: Marvin Ibo Guengoer - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
Dominik Szoboszlai was very clear: Liverpool is not playing a 4-2-3-1 system. It is a midfield three: a No. 6, a No. 8, and a No. 10.
Speaking to reporters before the international break, the Hungary captain was keen to point out that the set-up under Andoni Iraola is not necessarily exactly the same as how it is being viewed from the outside.
In the wider context of the opening few weeks of the new season, the double pivot — or the six and the eight, as Szoboszlai insisted — has been part of a larger discussion. Can it actually work, with Liverpool looking defensively stable enough, with Florian Wirtz essentially operating as a fourth forward?
That remains an issue that needs to be resolved, but former Liverpool midfielder Paul Ince is confident that the quality of the individuals involved means that it can work.
"Szoboszlai has been fantastic," Ince tells Liverpool.com. "When you look over the last two or three seasons, he's been the main man.
"And Ryan Gravenberch, I've always liked. He's an elegant player. He's good at everything; he can do everything well. I like him. He's got a great presence, he can pass, he's got two good feet, he scores goals, he's aggressive.
"I like the signings of the two of them, but I think that's probably why Alexis Mac Allister is frustrated, because they're signing long-term contracts and he's not.
"He's thinking, 'Hang on, if these two are signing contracts and they're the future, then why am I not?' But sometimes you give a long contract so the club can protect the asset. I like the two players. I think they're going to grow and get better, but I'd just like to see someone else in there."
Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool speaks to the media during the press conference on day ahead of the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 at Anfield
Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool speaks to the media during the press conference on day ahead of the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 at Anfield(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
That is where Wirtz enters the conversation. The Germany playmaker has plenty of quality, but having another player in front of the ball rather than thinking defensively first has at times proven to be a tough balance to get right.
"I know Wirtz hasn't hit the ground running at the moment. It's been difficult for him, settling in from last year to this year," Ince says.
"He's the one who really needs to start performing and show what he's capable of, because he's a fantastic player. You go back to Roberto Firmino when he was at Liverpool and how he used to knit everything together. Maybe I would look at Firmino and take some ideas from him.
"He wants to do well, he's trying to, but it's just not working for him at the moment. So, if he can get going and play alongside the likes of Gravenberch and Mac Allister, then hopefully Liverpool will be OK this year."
Behind the more senior midfield options at Anfield, Trey Nyoni is pushing hard for more action too. Promoted into the England U21s group this week, the teenager is someone that Iraola is a big fan of.
"I saw him the other day, and I like him," Ince, speaking on behalf of Sky Bet, continues. "He does everything simply, he looks very, very calm on the ball, very calm and collected, he doesn't look fazed, and he's one for the future.
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"Obviously, time will tell; there's a long, long way to go. We do get excited about young players, and we've just got to be careful how we look after them, how we treat them, and not go over the top.
"It's like what Mikel Arteta has been doing with Max Dowman at Arsenal: excited about him, but Arteta's keeping his feet on the ground. I think it's the same with Nyoni. We have to see how he develops as the season goes on.
"We see it a lot now. I remember when I joined Manchester United, they said to me, 'Paul, we've been watching you for two and a half seasons.'
"Nowadays, a player has one good season and they're going for £100M. It's madness. So, we'll see how it goes. It's great to see young kids coming through, it really is.
"I think we're not seeing that as much as we used to. We’ve seen it with Phil Foden, Max Dowman, and this other kid [Nyoni] is coming through now. So, I'll be watching his journey as the seasons go on, but he's definitely a talent, that's for sure."