Liverpool left it late to break Newcastle hearts again, so here are five questions The Reds still need to answer this summer…
SO, Liverpool left it late to break Newcastle hearts again.
However, given their opponents have been decimated in this transfer window, expectations before the game were that Andoni Iraola’s side would surely look the more put-together outfit of the two.
And yet it didn’t quite play out that way, so here are five questions The Reds still need to answer this summer, on the strength of yesterday’s evidence…
Jeremie Frimpong at right back
Milos Kerkez could rightly get as much criticism for his role in the first goal yesterday and for all too often being out of position, but adding to those likely tactical issues, Frimpong does have a real knack of looking particularly lightweight both in defence and attack.
For so much of yesterday he was completely outplayed and outmanned by Lewis Hall, while a lot of his passing and crossing when given space and time was undercooked, and he often looks all too easily overrun going the other way.
I liked him in between his injuries last season and thought he worked hard to make up for what he lacks in physical stature, but the current system as it is means he has to be able to be a right back that is strong going both ways, and I’m definitely concerned he might just not be able to rise to the level required.
The midfield balance
It’s closely linked to how the full backs operate, in that at the moment both are all or nothing, but having Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch operate as a double-pivot doesn’t seem like it’s a way home for Liverpool.
Yes, systemic things like this and possibly even the role of the fullbacks need time to be ironed out by the new manager, but to my mind it seems that Szoboszlai’s tendency to either chase the ball or get caught wrong side when attacks break down makes it more of a personnel issue.
Both were criticised in quarters for what they brought or didn’t bring to the midfield yesterday, but if I see Szoboszlai chase the ball down like a lunatic to pull out of a tackle and end up wrong side again I am going to blow a gasket.
Rio Ngumoha on the right
While he was still bright, and again may get better in the position given time, he was another that was completely outdone by Hall at left back yesterday.
He’s still young and has loads of time to add more strings to his bow, especially when learning a position, but he’ll have to learn to mix it up by coming inside sometimes and not just face up to take his man on before hitting the byline.
Of course, there’s a chance he doesn’t end up starting there much this season, but we’ll have more on that later…
Alexander Isak in isolation
Make no mistake, this was an immensely high-pressure game for him to come into, and no other will have the extra-curricular impact like playing at St. James’ Park. However, it all looked too familiar for Isak at Liverpool so far.
Isolated and unable to cover the ground required to get him on the ball more, and almost shocked and snatching at things when the ball did break for him, Andoni Iraola will need to – and as mentioned above, still could yet, of course – find a way to get The Reds’ number nine more involved.
He also needs to be more composed when things do break for him, though, as being a number nine in the Premier League against mostly low-block opponents can leave you feeding off scraps, and he has to meet his new manager in the middle if he’s to be a big success this season.
How many more moves?
It’s the question on everybody’s lips having seen just how much Liverpool were lacking in their first game, and yet there still seems to be a cautionary tale element to this question.
Three wingers have been strongly linked this window, with Yankuba Minteh the latest to see interest materialise into a bid, and some will argue all three would be nice and furthermore required if Cody Gakpo moves on.
Minteh and Ibrahim Mbaye would completely relieve Ngumoha of his right-wing responsibilities, while Bradley Barcola could be the main option off the left and even provide some Hugo Ekitike insurance through the middle until his counterpart recovers from an achilles injury.
How Victor Munoz, who too looked bright, fits into all of that remains to be seen and it’s clear Iraola is prepared to be flexible with his options as part of an altogether more fluid frontline.
That may in turn help bring Isak into things more too, but how it all fits together and the time that takes while Liverpool try to win games of football is the biggest question to answer of all wherever any aforementioned work within the squad still needs to be done.
