The past summer was another frustrating one where the players leaving the squad, and their quality, seemed greater than the sum of the new players who joined. It’s a situation that came across as if new head coach Iraola was being given a squad that was destined to make his first year at Liverpool even more challenging than seemed necessary and even though this season has seen the Reds unbeaten (until Sunday) it’s not been easy going.
There certainly have been impressive starts from the likes of Jeremy
Jacquet, Ronald Araujo and Victor Munoz but newest signing Bradley Barcola and from the previous summer Florian Wirtz, Jeremy Frimpong plus Alexander Isak to a degree are not exactly inspiring with their performances.
Isak has started getting better, especially with Cody Gakpo seeming to have created an understanding on the pitch and with the added encouragement that Isak isn’t a stranger to the Premier League style and was outstanding for Newcastle once he adapted. Proof of that partnership’s importance was very evident when we, the Reds supporters, heard the news they would both be missing due to injuries for the 114 City game last Sunday and we found ourselves wondering where the goals would come from.
Those tough decisions facing Iraola aren’t all related to squad depth and perhaps in some twisted way the thin squad to choose from makes the decisions for Iraola easier but it’s also down to the performance levels of players who are top quality yet struggling. It all gets quite frustrating and as reluctant as this writer is to point at certain players there are growing concerns that just because a player has proved themselves to be world class in other leagues around the world it isn’t a guarantee they will be able to produce the same here in the Premier League.
One such player was Mohamed Salah who really struggled at Chelsea once they brought him to the club after his performances against them for Basel in the Champions League and then there was Timo Werner who we were desperate to sign but Chelsea stole him away only to turn out being a player who just couldn’t find his world class form in the Premier League. Only two examples and of course Mo Salah became a Liverpool Legend at his second go at playing in the Premier League but there are many throughout the recent history of football here.
This writer doesn’t believe that certain players that are struggling at the moment are suddenly terrible at football and nor do I feel they aren’t putting in the effort but something is not clicking and Wirtz is the perfect example where he has just returned from international football with Germany. He was MotM in one game as well both scoring a wonderful goal and getting assists but in the game last Sunday it was obvious to all the supporters and pundits that he was the player Iraola was going to sub off first.
In these dark days remember Ekitike is a Red
Possibly the missing player who is having the biggest impact is Hugo Ekitike who had started to form a very good understanding with Wirtz yet also was a center forward who dropped deeper to get the ball and a hold on the games, a little like Roberto ‘The Dazzler’ Firmino. Ekitike also moved across the front line with ease and that movement gave positive options for Wirtz as they often combined with quick pass-and-moves and opening up space for each other to attack.
Back to the present
With the Champions League match away against LASK on Wednesday I expect to see Iraola go with Frimpong on the right, possibly Kostas Tsimikas starting over Milos Kerkez and Joe Gomez in for Jacquet as he had a slight knock during international duty with France.
Ryan Gravenberch will be serving his one match ban in the next League game away at Brentford so I can see him starting on Wednesday and being replaced by Trey next Saturday. There is also Dominik Szoboslai and Isak penciled in for being ready for the Saturday match but definitely no chance either will play midweek and as for Gakpo the return date is still considered an unknown.
I should let you all know that I’m writing this on Monday even though to be published Tuesday but I’ll still stick by what my gut is telling me about squad rotation and in relation to the article being partly about the lack of depth there aren’t exactly a lot of choices.
Closing thoughts
Liverpool need to do right by Iraola and bring a midfielder in this January to fill the Curtis Jones hole and with the way Gravenberch enjoys carrying the ball more than defending it seems a more disciplined defensive midfielder is this writer’s preference.
I can see Frimpong being moved on next summer and a new right-back being brought in. Exactly what age profile may depend on how Conor Bradley does when back playing, especially injury wise as the concern is he’s a great player but made of glass.
Not all world class players are suitable of the Premier League but that doesn’t mean they are bad players (or worthy of online harassment) and same goes for not every player fits a system like Iraola’s.
Finally, it’s going to be a bumpy season and everyone probably should have been accepting of that clear reality before the first ball was kicked in the league but that also doesn’t mean we won’t experience frustration as well some joy. YNWA
