Liverpool's midfield was questioned after the 2-2 draw with Newcastle when both Magpies goals came from counter-attacks
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - AUGUST 21: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Andoni Iraola head coach of Liverpool during a press conference at AXA Training Centre on August 21, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola(Image: Andrew Powell, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Andoni Iraola wasn't surprised by the critical reaction to Liverpool's midfield after their opening draw at Newcastle United - with the Reds working "intently" on dealing with counter-attacks.
The manner in which Liverpool were caught out by goals on the break from Anthony Elanga and substitute Joe Willock on Sunday heightened calls for them to make a move for a dedicated defensive midfielder before next Tuesday's transfer deadline.
Wataru Endo is the only recognised senior number six in the squad but hasn't started only two Premier League games in two seasons, with Ryan Gravenberch having partnered Dominik Szoboszlai in the engine room at St James' Park.
The duo are likely to come under pressure from Alexis Mac Allister for a starting role when Iraola makes his competitive home bow against Nottingham Forest on Saturday lunchtime.
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And of the debate over the Liverpool midfield, the Reds boss said: "Not surprised, I expected when I came here that everything is going to be magnified for the good and the bad.
"I am starting to understand everything that happens but it is just one game where we did a lot of very good things, even the midfielders did good things.
"There are things we need to improve, we talk about the goals we conceded but I have no doubt they are all top players. Now it is a matter of myself, the coaching staff and players how we can maximise the level of the players we have in the midfield because you analyse one by one and they are all very, very good players.
"This is football. At the end we go to the goals always. If you make exactly the same mistake we will be talking about it. When you concede two goals because of the transitions it is normal that we have to talk about it.
"I think in the second half we were much better in that aspect in having the numbers. I hope we improve but then we will be talking about something else."
Iraola added: "We don't want to lose the offensive side, the fluidity, the arrival with numbers, but we were punished the other day especially with the first goal we didn't do a proper lockdown.
"We have been intently working on it. It's nothing new, we always want to control that. But there is a balance, we can't go from one way where we send a lot of people forward to putting everyone back so we don't arrive with numbers and everything looks stale.
"It's a matter of identifying the situation. The players who are very good, they smell when there is real danger, whether they can take the risk of going or whether they can stay, it's the quality of the player who takes those decisions.
"I don’t like when one full-back thinks the other has gone (forward) they have to stay. Depending on the situation or your opposition, if the opposition is defending very low and we have the numbers at the back, it's probably safe to go, but if they are leaving players in behind you have to be careful."
Neither Harvey Elliott nor Federico Chiesa were on the bench at Newcastle, with Iraola revealing the latter remains sidelined for this weekend after suffering yet another injury setback.
"They have different circumstances," said the Reds boss. "Fede is not available. In the game against Como he felt something in his back and it's a small muscle injury and he's not available.
"With Harvey, with (Luke) Chambers, some of the players I decide because I can choose only 20. It is about finding the balance on the bench.
"In Harvey's case he is trying, he is improving every week but still I preferred other options. I decided to put James McConnell in the squad but it is a new week, a new chance for everyone. They have to keep that mentality."
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