I’ve been looking at Liverpool’s performances this season, and for me, there is one area of the team that stands out as the biggest problem. It’s the midfield.
And if I could bring back any former Liverpool player to sort it out, there is one name that immediately springs to mind: Graeme Souness.
Imagine having a midfielder like Souness in the middle of the park for Andoni Iraola. Someone who could tackle, win battles, drive the team forward and make sure opponents knew they were in for a difficult afternoon.
Liverpool have plenty of talented footballers, but I still feel something is missing in the middle of the pitch. And it isn’t necessarily another player who can pass the ball around nicely. It’s someone who can take control of a game when things aren’t going Liverpool’s way.
Liverpool Need More Steel in Midfield
There is no shortage of technical ability in this Liverpool squad, but I want to see more authority and aggression in midfield.
Too often, the concern is what happens when Liverpool lose possession. Are they protected properly? Can they stop an opposition counter-attack before it becomes dangerous? Is there someone prepared to put their foot in, win the ball and give the rest of the team a platform to attack?
For me, these are questions Iraola needs to answer.
Liverpool need midfielders who can do more than keep possession. They need players who understand when to move the ball forward, when to slow things down and, crucially, when to get stuck into a battle.
I’m not suggesting every midfielder needs to be a destroyer. Modern football demands technical quality, movement and tactical intelligence. But you need a balance, and I don’t always feel Liverpool have got that balance right.
The biggest issue for me is that Liverpool can look vulnerable when teams get through the middle of the pitch. Until that improves, I will continue to question whether this midfield is strong enough to give the team the platform it needs.
Why I’d Bring Graeme Souness Back
If there is one former Liverpool midfielder I would love to see dropped into this current team, it would be Graeme Souness.
What a player he was.
Souness was tough, commanding and technically outstanding. He could put in a tackle, dictate the tempo, pick a pass and score spectacular goals. He wasn’t simply a hard man who went around kicking opponents; he was an exceptional footballer who combined physical strength with intelligence and quality on the ball.
During his Liverpool career, he made 359 appearances and won five league titles and three European Cups. He also captained the club during one of the most successful periods in its history. Those achievements tell their own story.
But what I particularly miss when watching Liverpool’s midfield is that sense of authority.
Souness played with a presence that made him stand out. He wanted the ball, demanded high standards and wasn’t afraid of a physical contest. He could take responsibility when the game became difficult rather than disappear into the background.
Just imagine him playing alongside Liverpool’s current midfielders.
He would give the team bite, leadership and the ability to impose itself on opponents. He could win possession and then use his passing range to turn defence into attack.
That combination is what made him so special.
Would Souness Fix Liverpool’s Problems?
Obviously, bringing Souness back is a fantasy. The game has changed enormously since his playing days, and even a player of his quality couldn’t single-handedly solve every problem in this Liverpool side.
But the type of midfielder he was is exactly what I would love to see Liverpool find in the transfer market.
I want someone who can protect the defence without sacrificing the ability to play football. Someone who can read danger, compete physically and keep the team organised when possession is lost.
Liverpool need a midfielder who can take responsibility rather than simply rely on others to do the dirty work.
Ryan Gravenberch has quality on the ball, Alexis Mac Allister can influence games with his passing, and Dominik Szoboszlai brings energy and work rate. There is talent there, but I still believe Iraola needs to find the right balance between creativity, control and defensive protection.
That might mean recruiting a specialist defensive midfielder. It might mean changing the way the existing players work together. Either way, it needs addressing.
What About Other Liverpool Legends?
There have been plenty of outstanding midfielders in Liverpool’s history, and Souness wouldn’t be the only tempting choice.
Steven Gerrard would bring driving runs, goals and leadership. Xabi Alonso would offer extraordinary vision and the ability to dictate play from deep. Javier Mascherano would bring the defensive tenacity and positional discipline that Liverpool sometimes appear to lack.
All three would improve this team in different ways.
But if I’m choosing one player specifically to add steel, authority and quality to the heart of Liverpool’s midfield, I’m going with Souness.
He had the complete package. He could win the physical battle and play the sort of pass that opened up an opposition defence.
That is the combination I want Liverpool to have again.
My Verdict: Iraola Must Get the Midfield Right
I’m not writing off Liverpool’s midfielders, and I’m certainly not suggesting that one new signing would suddenly make everything perfect.
But I do believe the midfield is the biggest problem area in this team, and it is where Iraola needs to find a solution.
Liverpool can have all the attacking talent in the world, but if they cannot control games, protect their defence and deal with opponents breaking through the middle, they will continue to make life harder for themselves.
For me, the answer is finding a modern-day version of Graeme Souness: a midfielder with strength, intelligence, leadership and the technical ability to make things happen.
If I could bring one former Liverpool player back in his prime to improve this team, Souness would be my choice every single time.
He was a winner, a leader and a magnificent footballer. And I reckon Liverpool could do with a midfielder like him right now.
Who would you bring back to improve Liverpool’s midfield? Would you go with Souness, Gerrard, Alonso or Mascherano – or is there another former Red you would choose?
Jamie – (The Kopite View)
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