Carragher slams ‘madness’ behind Iraola tactics as Liverpool urged to fix glaring issue | OneFootball

Jamie Carragher slammed Andoni Iraola’s tactics after Liverpool managed to secure a stoppage-time 2-2 draw at Newcastle in their Premier League opener on Sunday, with the Reds also urged to fix a glaring issue before the summer transfer window closes.

On an emotional day at St James’ Park, which started with an incredible tribute to the late Kevin Keegan, it was the home side who arguably deserved all three points – having led twice through Anthony Elanga and Joe Willock.

However, after Cody Gakpo had equalised for Liverpool, the visitors were awarded a penalty in the 96th-minute after Lewis Hall’s foul on Victor Munoz, with Dominik Szoboszlai smashing home from the spot to secure a point for the Reds in Iraola’s first game in charge.

Having looked vulnerable in midfield and defence for much of Arne Slot’s second and final season in charge, there was no real change with Iraola at the helm, with Newcastle consistently overrunning Liverpool’s engine room of Ryan Gravenberch, Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz.

And Liverpool legend Carragher was left incensed by Elanga’s goal on the counter-attack, immediately posting on X: “LFC Midfield all bombing forward happened all pre-season, madness!”

And, after Willock’s goal occurred in similar circumstances after a brilliant run from Yoane Wissa, Carragher posted: “Again! This midfield cannot work, I said it before a competitive ball was kicked.”

Iraola urged to fix ‘three-year’ Liverpool problem

Meanwhile, former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge agreed with his old teammate, urging Iraola to sign a quality defensive midfielder before the window shuts on September 1.

“I think the team needs a defensive midfielder personally,” Sturridge told Sky Sports. “We’ve been talking about the defensive midfielder at Liverpool for the past three years.

“Gravenberch coming into the team, playing consistently and Liverpool winning the Premier League changed that philosophy. But if you actually analyse the midfield, they’re all naturally more attacking players.

“If you look at Brentford, they bring in [Mamadou] Sangare and you look at his stats, they jump out. Third in interceptions, third in tackles, third in possession recovered.

“£39million, that’s not a load of money for someone like Liverpool. I’m not suggesting he was the man [they should’ve signed] but the stats jump out and Liverpool don’t have that profile of player right now.

“Trey Nyoni, I really, really like him as a player, I think he’s brilliant. He’s more of a ball-playing six or eight, he’s not a destroyer, he’s not someone who’s going to strike fear into the opposition like a Sangare or an N’Golo Kante can.”

Adding a new No.6 has not exactly been a main objective for Liverpool this window, with their focus on bringing in a successor for club legend Mohamed Salah instead.

Bradley Barcola has been the top target for a number of weeks, although that focus now appears to have now switched more towards Brighton star Yankuba Minteh.

Indeed, the Reds are reported to have had two bids for the player rejected to date, with the Seagulls currently valuing the Ghana international at around £70m.