Liverpool's midfield is fragile - will they act in the window?

A little over four minutes had passed at St James' Park on Sunday and Liverpool had started encouragingly, keeping the ball well and with urgency in their play.

Ryan Gravenberch created space with a brilliant touch to get past Lewis Miley but instead of shooting from the edge of the box or playing Dominik Szoboszlai through, the Netherlands international lost possession.

Just 11 seconds later, Newcastle were ahead through Anthony Elanga after a devastating counter that required one pass after Amar Dedic's initial clearance.

Liverpool simply had no structure when out of possession. It was schoolboy stuff and a nightmare start for Andoni Iraola.

It was a similar story in the second half when Gravenberch was dispossessed after trying a back heel on the edge of the Newcastle box.

This time, Yoane Wissa went on a brilliant run through the centre - evading an array of Liverpool players - and played the ball to Joe Willock, who finished in style.

As Iraola alluded to after, perhaps one of his players should have had the know how to commit a foul in that situation but Liverpool were punished again.

Looking back on both goals, Gravenberch's decision-making should have been better and perhaps the centre-back pairing of Virgil van Dijk and Jeremy Jacquet could have engaged quicker rather than holding off.

But having a defensive midfielder stationed accordingly would, in all likelihood, have nullified the threat.

Liverpool have not had an out-and-out number six since Fabinho, who left in 2023, and as it stands Iraola's preference is a two-man pivot in midfield with Florian Wirtz playing as a number 10.

Both of those two midfielders, Gravenberch and Szoboszlai, were in the Newcastle box when Liverpool lost possession before Elanga's opener.

If Liverpool are to be taken seriously, they simply cannot concede goals like that regularly.

Iraola tends to avoid major debriefs in the dressing room after a game, with his personal preference to speak to the players a day later.

Asked in his post-match news conference about what could be done to prevent the kind of goals his side conceded, the Liverpool head coach suggested that it was not due to the type or identity of midfielders he had selected.

"I think it's just not personnel," said Iraola. "I understand you are telling me basically that Ryan Gravenberch is the six and he is on the edge of the box - but if he shoots and he scores we are saying what a play from Ryan Gravenberch."

It was an interesting point, given that Gravenberch produced the assist for Cody Gakpo's equaliser.

But shortly after Newcastle went 2-1 up, Iraola reacted by bringing on Alexis Mac Allister for Wirtz and Liverpool did seem more stable defensively - even if the Argentina international prefers to play as an eight.

Szoboszlai made zero tackles and won three of his 10 duels (30%) while Gravenberch similarly failed to make a tackle and won four of his 10 duels (40%).

When Mac Allister came on, he made two tackles and won four of his five duels (80%).

"We have to adapt as a team to these situations and we have to know that these situations can happen," added Iraola.

"I think the second goal, we probably did better in terms of having the numbers to defend - we don't make the foul, or go to the first challenge or probably reduce the distance with the ball carrier, so it's an incredible goal.

"Situations [are] just not because one person is playing there, [it] is something that we have to correct between a lot of players."

At full-time, the xG was 1.43 to Newcastle and 2.73 to Liverpool - indicating Newcastle had ruthlessly seized their opportunities against Iraola's side.

On Sky Sports, former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge did not hold back in his criticism.

"Liverpool do not have that profile of player right now." said Sturridge. "The team has needed a defensive midfielder for three years. If you analyse the midfield, they are all naturally attacking players."

At Liverpool, the focus in the remaining days of the transfer window is clear. Their stance is unchanged in that the priority remains wide attacking players rather than midfield, even after the exit of Curtis Jones.

As always, if an opportunity presents itself in the market then Liverpool will consider it but Iraola is understood to be satisfied with his depth in midfield - with Wataru Endo, Trey Nyoni and James McConnell as the back-up options.

Liverpool have previously enquired about Adam Wharton but Crystal Palace's stance is that the 22-year-old is not for sale.

Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool tried to get Moises Caicedo in 2023 and when Arne Slot arrived in 2024, Liverpool were keen on signing Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.

But that fell through when the now-Arsenal midfielder turned the move down.

Gravenberch had a brilliant season under Slot as Liverpool cruised their way to the Premier League title, perhaps masking the issues temporarily by covering over emerging cracks.

Liverpool's summer window 12 months ago then became about super-charging their attack with Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, rather than reinforcing the middle of the pitch.

Those fault lines are much clearer now and Iraola will know that his midfield must become harder to break down or else his side will keep on conceding.