Steven Gerrard is excited by Liverpool's attacking options under Andoni Iraola but believes his former club are still missing a particular type of midfielder
Liverpool great Steven Gerrard speaks on The Overlap Daily, brought to you by Sky Bet
Liverpool great Steven Gerrard speaks on The Overlap Daily, brought to you by Sky Bet
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Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has named the player he believes Andoni Iraola's side are still lacking as he hailed the "exciting mix" of attackers now at the new head coach's disposal.
On Sunday Iraola enjoyed his best win yet since taking over the Anfield reins as the Reds won at home in the Premier League for the first time this season after beating fellow high-flyers Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0.
The victory stretched Liverpool's winning run in all competitions to four matches going into Wednesday's Carabao Cup clash at home to Chelsea.
The Reds fired in 14 goals in those matches with £100m men Bradley Barcola, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz all finding the target.
READ MORE: Inside Ronald Araujo's revival at Liverpool as £47m transfer question nears answer
Gerrard is delighted with the progress his former club are making under Iraola, who has now won eight and drawn three of his 12 games in charge.
But the ex-England international believes the next step for Liverpool will be becoming even harder to break down. However, he feels they may need to make a move in the transfer market to aid that.
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"This team needs Isak fit and available and robust enough to repeat games, because he’s a Premier League goalscorer," said Gerrard on The Overlap Daily, brought to you by Sky Bet. "The pass from Barcola, where he’s bounced it off the ground, which I think is meant to get it over the defender’s leg, and the way Isak’s opened his foot and just guided it, it wasn’t an easy finish, but it was a lovely goal.
"Barcola looks rapid. He looks rapid, and he’s now looking match fit with game minutes under his belt. He came in after a pre-season with no game time. He’s had a fantastic 10 days/two weeks, and the touch paper’s lit now. You can see the player they’ve signed.
"Wirtz came back from the international break under a real cloud of criticism, but he’s stepped up. He’s accepted it, and his performances in the last three have been much better. I still think there’s more to come, but you can see the talent. He was excellent in the first half yesterday."
Liverpool took the lead on Sunday through a Pascal Gross own goal, which was initially credited to Wirtz, before Isak turned in Barcola's cross four minutes later.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola of Liverpool during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on October 25, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Alexander Isak makes sure the Liverpool faithful appreciate the role the Bradley Barcola played in the striker's goal against Brighton(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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But Brighton fought back strongly after that double whammy and finished the game with 1.35 xG compared to the Reds' 0.87 after going close to reducing the deficit on a number of occasions.
And Gerrard continued: "So you’ve got those three together, you add Cody Gakpo to that, young Rio Ngumoha. It’s a really exciting mix if you can keep them all fit and available and keep them all firing and contributing.
"Now the challenge is: can they defend well enough? Because they have been conceding too many goals. Alexis Mac Allister’s come back into top form, Ryan Gravenberch is back in the team, so if we can get Dominik Szoboszlai back in there, it’s a stronger midfield when they’re all fit and available.
"I still think, moving forward, and Iraola might disagree and some Liverpool fans might disagree, Liverpool miss a real strong powerhouse in the middle of the team. Someone who holds the middle of the team and stops people playing through them and puts a lot of fires out, like a Fabinho, for example. A Didi Hamann.
"I played with that type, who worry about the other side of the game. When everyone’s thinking attack, or let’s go and create and be obsessed with scoring, you have a clever one in the team, like a Rodri, who goes: 'No, no. If this goes wrong or the ball turns over, we need to fix a different problem. I think Liverpool lack that. Mac Allister’s good, but I don’t think he’s top at that. "
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: Ronald Araujo of Liverpool celebrates after the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on October 25, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Ronald Araujo celebrates after Liverpool's win over Brighton (Jan Kruger/Getty Images)