According to The Athletic, Liverpool's midfield issues became evident in Saturday's goalless home draw with Fulham, presenting manager Andoni Iraola with a dual dilemma of squad composition and tactical balance.

While previous victories over Ipswich and Atlético Madrid suggested Iraola was asserting his authority at Liverpool, this dull draw exposed the problems he is grappling with.

It was an error-prone, indifferent display. Liverpool played without intensity, carelessly, and without cohesion. They were dominated for long periods by a team that had lost all three of their previous Premier League matches before visiting Anfield.

Iraola believes fatigue from the grueling midweek victory over Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid was the primary cause of the sharp decline in performance. The intensity was clearly absent.

"We lacked freshness — we cannot hide from that," Iraola told journalists after the match.

"It is the worst possible scenario, just over 60 hours between matches, but this will happen more frequently. We have to adapt."

"In these matches, sometimes you need a set piece, a strike from outside the box, a flash of attacking genius to win — but we had none of that in this match. It is the first time since I took charge that the team has struggled to create chances."

Alexander Isak missed a gilt-edged opportunity late in the game, heading wide from a Dominic Szoboszlai corner, and looked exhausted. Barcola was also off the pace; the expensive Paris Saint-Germain signing understandably needs time to find his rhythm.

But the most concerning weaknesses Liverpool demonstrated against Fulham had little to do with player fatigue. Take the left-back position, for instance: returning Konstantinos Tsimikas played poorly and was substituted at half-time. In fact, the Greek defender was fortunate to last as long as he did — he won just 3 of 8 duels (38% success rate) and completed only 20 of 31 passes (65% accuracy).

The decision to recall Konstantinos Tsimikas from his loan at Roma last season to provide cover for Kierkez following Robertson's departure was a cost-effective option that avoided dipping into the transfer market, but it may ultimately prove costly for Liverpool.

Kierkez came on as a substitute in the second half against Fulham, and while the Hungarian defender has had a poor start to the season, he has no real competition for his position. Academy graduate Chambers, who impressed Iraola in pre-season and as a result was not loaned out by the club, may well be a better option than Konstantinos Tsimikas.

Iraola's biggest headache right now is the midfield composition. It is a matter of squad depth and the balance between attack and defense.

Liverpool did not strengthen their midfield this summer because they believed the new manager could unlock greater potential from the existing squad.

Despite persistent calls from some supporters to sign a number 6 specialist, Iraola believes his tactical system does not require such a player. Following Curtis Jones's sale to Serie A champions Inter Milan, young Nionyé is expected to get more playing time.

Youssouf Camara from Monaco would have been the preferred replacement had Onionyé decided to leave after being told a new contract would not be offered.

Deploying Wirtz in his preferred three-midfielder system is a gamble that pays off when the German star can provide crucial creativity. But when he is ineffective at number 10, as he was against Fulham, his presence forces his teammates behind him to cover vast areas.

Wirtz completed 44 of 53 passes (83% accuracy) and won 1 of 4 duels (25% success rate). Midway through the second half, he created an opportunity for Barcola with a clever heel pass, but the French winger squandered the chance, failing to find the waiting Alexander Isak. However, on other occasions, Wirtz's wayward passes created difficulties for him, and he felt the frustration of the Anfield crowd.

To inject freshness, Iraola gave Ryan Gravenberch his first start since the opening weekend of the season, but the Dutch international, who signed a new six-year contract in March, has yet to shake off the decline he experienced toward the end of Slot's tenure.

Ryan Gravenberch looked bereft of confidence, shaking his head in frustration after losing the ball cheaply. He completed 24 of 31 passes (77% accuracy) and won 4 of 7 duels (57% success rate).

In-form MacAllister, who replaced Ryan Gravenberch in the final thirty minutes, looked far more assured. The match-winner against Atlético midweek completed 18 of 20 passes (90% accuracy) and won the sole duel he contested.

The midfield partnership of Dominic Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch provided no control. Fulham penetrated the spaces between them too easily. As with Ryan Gravenberch, Liverpool incurred significant financial outlay in handing Dominic Szoboszlai a new five-year contract in July.

That was a reward for the Hungarian captain's outstanding performances throughout the previous season. On Saturday, he created more chances (4) than anyone else on the pitch, and his ball-carrying ability is undeniable. But Anfield fans were frustrated by his losses in some contested moments. Dominic Szoboszlai won just 1 of 10 duels, an unacceptable return.

When asked about Liverpool's midfield issues and how to find the right balance between attack and defense, Iraola said: "Especially in the first half, our pressing was always one step too slow. That was very obvious."

"In the second half, we improved significantly in that respect. Through better structure on the pitch, we controlled the game better in the second half. Even without scoring, I felt more comfortable. Even if we were not brilliant in these aspects and sometimes struggled, we did not give the opponent clear goalscoring chances. The only chance we gave them was when we made an error in our own box."

That scare arose from an ill-advised pass by Alisson to Ryan Gravenberch under pressure, which was ultimately cleared off the line by Jaqueta to deny Gonzalo García a goal. This moment reflected Liverpool's overall chaotic state.

Unused substitute Onionyé should be given an opportunity to start in Tuesday's League Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield.

Iraola's midfield is malfunctioning.

Переведено ИИ.

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