David Lynch names the biggest question still facing Andoni Iraola at Liverpool | OneFootball

David Lynch: Andoni Iraola Still Searching for Liverpool’s Best XI

Andoni Iraola has made an encouraging start to life at Liverpool, but David Lynch believes the new head coach is still searching for his strongest starting XI.

Speaking to Dave Davis on Anfield Index’s Media Matters podcast, Lynch assessed Iraola’s opening weeks in charge and the decisions that remain unresolved within his Liverpool squad.

Asked directly whether Iraola currently knows his strongest XI, Lynch’s response was immediate.

“No, I don’t think he does because I don’t think he knows exactly what he wants.”

That uncertainty does not stretch across the entire Liverpool side. Lynch believes Iraola has already made significant progress in defence and has a good idea of his preferred attacking combination.

The major question remains midfield.

Iraola Has Settled Liverpool Defence

One of Iraola’s early achievements has been establishing greater defensive stability.

Lynch admitted earlier in the discussion that Liverpool’s defensive record had surprised him, saying: “I did not think that he would make them as watertight early doors as he has, really.”

Part of that progress has come from Iraola finding a defensive combination he trusts.

“He got there quite quickly, really, with his back four and Araujo moving to right-back, and that worked really nicely, and he settled on that,” Lynch explained.

When the conversation moved towards Iraola’s best XI, Lynch was similarly decisive.

“He knows his back four, I think.”

That gives Liverpool a foundation. The uncertainty begins further forward.

Liverpool Front Three Becoming Clear

Lynch also believes Iraola probably has an idea of the attack he wants to use when everybody is available.

“I think his preferred front three is probably Gakpo, Isak and Barcola,” he said.

Alexander Isak’s goals have helped provide clarity, while Liverpool have several attacking options available to Iraola.

The discussion around the midfield is far less straightforward.

“I’m not sure he knows what mix he wants in midfield exactly yet,” Lynch said.

That selection puzzle has followed Iraola through the opening weeks of his Liverpool tenure, with Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister among the players competing for significant roles.

Trey Nyoni could further complicate the equation.

Photo: IMAGO

Wirtz and Szoboszlai Face Midfield Question

Lynch believes Iraola is still trying to establish the correct balance and determine how significant a role Nyoni should have.

“What role Trey can play, will play this season,” Lynch said, before raising the possibility that Liverpool might eventually need to alter the current combination.

“Whether he needs to kind of rebalance things by throwing Trey in there and maybe sacrificing Wirtz or Szoboszlai. I think that’s something he’s still working out.”

Wirtz has already been identified by Lynch as a minor concern following his early Premier League performances, while Liverpool are attempting to find a midfield capable of providing both defensive security and attacking quality.

Lynch admitted he would like the opportunity to hear Iraola’s assessment of the situation away from the usual public answers.

“I’d love to know. I’d love to sit down and have an honest chat with him about that because it’s still the biggest puzzle he’s got.”

Strongest Liverpool XI Could Already Be Emerging

There remains another possibility. Iraola may have already identified the combination he ultimately wants.

“Maybe he already has, by the way,” Lynch said.

“Maybe he will be proven that going forward Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister is his best that he’s got and the other two are in reserve there. That might be the case. We don’t know that yet.”

That uncertainty is perhaps understandable during the early stages of a new managerial reign.

Iraola has already found an answer at right-back, established a defensive unit and appears to have a preferred front three. Midfield represents the remaining piece.

Lynch believes the speed with which Iraola solved Liverpool’s defensive question provides reason to think the midfield answer may arrive soon.

“He worked out the back four pretty quickly, so maybe he will with his midfield.”

For now, though, Liverpool’s strongest XI remains unfinished.

As Lynch put it: “I’m not quite sure yet that he’s there.”