Carragher flags structural vulnerabilities in Liverpool’s midfield setup

Jamie Carragher has identified a significant structural vulnerability in Liverpool’s squad, describing the midfield as a “huge problem” due to the absence of a recognised specialist defensive midfielder. Speaking on The Overlap, the former defender argued that the current tactical configuration leaves excessive space in the centre of the pitch, a concern that persists despite individual quality in the squad.

While Liverpool have made notable movements in other areas of the team this summer, the midfield remains largely untouched in the transfer window. The club has strengthened its defence with the arrivals of Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo, added Victor Munoz to bolster attacking options, and secured the return of Kostas Tsimikas and Harvey Elliott from loan. However, Carragher contends that the most structurally important area of Andoni Iraola’s side may still be missing a key component.

Carragher highlighted the potential risks of deploying Dominik Szoboszlai alongside Ryan Gravenberch in deeper roles. He noted that last season exposed difficulties when Gravenberch performed the No. 6 role, creating spaces that opponents could exploit. The pundit warned that these issues could worsen if the club proceeds with a midfield pairing that relies on box-to-box runners rather than a dedicated defensive anchor.

“There’s almost too much quality, but they all want to go and play and run,” Carragher observed regarding the collective instincts of players such as Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, and Florian Wirtz. He pointed to pre-season indicators where space continued to come through the middle, suggesting that individual talent alone may not resolve the underlying tactical imbalance.

The club had previously been linked with Adam Wharton for a defensive midfield role, and Elliot Anderson was discussed before his move to Manchester City. Despite these earlier interests, adding a specialist No. 6 has not appeared to be among the immediate priorities. Carragher believes this approach carries considerable risk, as the current setup may leave the side vulnerable to counter-attacks and central overruns.

The comments underscore a divergence between squad activity and tactical needs. While the defence and attack have seen reinforcement, the midfield’s structural integrity remains in question. Carragher’s assessment suggests that without a specialist to control large areas of the pitch, Liverpool’s midfield could face persistent challenges in maintaining defensive stability.