David Lynch reveals the ‘biggest problem’ from Liverpool’s draw with Fulham | OneFootball

Liverpool Midfield Problems Exposed as Fulham Frustrate Andoni Iraola

Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Fulham was the sort of afternoon that raises more questions than it answers. For Andoni Iraola, many of those questions sit squarely in midfield.

Speaking to Dave Davis on Anfield Index’s Media Matters podcast, David Lynch described it as a “very, very poor game”, with Liverpool unable to build on consecutive victories.

Fulham arrived at Anfield without a Premier League point, yet Liverpool never established the control expected of them. Lynch felt the visitors had reason to be pleased with how the contest developed.

“If you’re Fulham coming into that, having not picked up a single point so far, you’re probably delighted with a poor game,” he said.

For Liverpool, it was another reminder of the work facing Iraola.

Midfield Leaves Liverpool Too Easy to Play Through

The biggest concern came through Liverpool’s midfield, where Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch struggled badly as a double pivot.

Lynch has previously been willing to give that partnership time, particularly with a new coach attempting to reshape Liverpool’s football. The evidence against Fulham, however, was difficult to ignore.

“The evidence they’re serving up so far is not great in their favour,” Lynch admitted.

Szoboszlai’s duel numbers were particularly alarming. He won only one of his 10 duels, prompting a sharp assessment from Lynch.

“You’ve got to win more than one in ten of your duels in the game, mate,” he said. “You can’t be kind of looking for instruction there outside of kind of win a challenge, for goodness sake.”

His conclusion was equally significant: “I think it made Liverpool kind of easy to play through.”

Possession Problems Hurt Iraola’s Side

Liverpool’s problems extended beyond the physical battle. Lynch actually regarded their work in possession as potentially more damaging.

“I think possibly in possession for me was probably the biggest problem of all of them, really,” he explained. “I just thought they were so safe and not vertical enough for the football that they’re being asked to do.”

That gets to the heart of Iraola’s midfield challenge.

Liverpool have Florian Wirtz operating ahead of the double pivot, yet the German needs regular service between the lines. Lynch highlighted one occasion when Szoboszlai found Wirtz centrally, while arguing those passes need to become a much more regular feature.

“If Szoboszlai should be finding Wirtz in the ten, and Gravenberch should be doing the same, the same with Mac Allister when he’s playing. They should be finding him in the ten, ten, fifteen times a game.”

Instead, Liverpool were cautious.

“They’re too safe and they’re too scared to kind of play through the lines in case they turn it over,” Lynch said.

Photo: IMAGO

Gravenberch Misses Chance to Stake Claim

Gravenberch’s return to the starting XI represented an opportunity after time out of the side, but Lynch was left disappointed.

“I thought he was really poor, really disappointed, because I’m a big fan of Gravenberch,” he said.

The midfielder completed around 80 per cent of his passes, although Lynch stressed that the raw percentage did not tell the story.

“It’s the ones he misplaces. And also at times the caution he shows in not trying to misplace them.”

That caution contributed to Liverpool struggling to progress possession through midfield.

Lynch added: “I didn’t see, you know, didn’t take on any passes through the lines, which would have put Liverpool on the front foot.”

With Wirtz struggling to receive possession consistently in central areas, Liverpool’s creative structure inevitably suffered.

Iraola Faces Clear Liverpool Midfield Challenge

The Fulham result leaves Iraola with a problem that coaching must address.

“Progression is an issue, I think, from midfield,” Lynch said. “A lot of the good progression seems to be coming from the centre-halves.”

There is no immediate transfer solution, either. As Lynch pointed out, Liverpool have to work with this group until the January window provides another opportunity.

“We probably need to focus on coaching and seeing what he can get out of it and how he can get more out of what he has.”

There remains some perspective around Liverpool’s start. Iraola is implementing a different system, his pressing structure remains a work in progress and his side are still unbeaten.

Yet Fulham exposed an issue Liverpool cannot afford to ignore. Their midfield lost too many battles, progressed the ball too cautiously and failed to connect consistently with Wirtz.

As Lynch put it: “It’s clear that there are problems there, aren’t there? He needs to find a fix there.”

For Iraola, finding that fix could shape what Liverpool become this season.