Daniel Sturridge Questions Liverpool's Midfield Planning
Daniel Sturridge has thrown a sharp spotlight on Liverpool’s summer planning, questioning how a glaring problem in midfield has been allowed to linger into the new season.
The former Reds striker, now on pundit duty, watched Andoni Iraola’s first Premier League game in charge unravel in a familiar way at St. James’ Park – and he did not like what he saw.
Old problems, new season
New head coach, same wounds.
Within minutes of kickoff against Newcastle United, Liverpool were sliced open on the counter. Ryan Gravenberch was robbed just outside the home side’s box and, in a few ruthless passes, Newcastle went from back to front. Anthony Elanga finished the move, and Liverpool were chasing the game before they had settled.
They clawed their way back early in the second half. Cody Gakpo found the equalizer and, briefly, it looked as though Iraola’s side might wrestle control.
That hope didn’t last.
Again Liverpool were exposed in transition, this time from their own attacking position. Substitute Joe Willock punished them, restoring Newcastle’s lead and reawakening all the old debates about the Reds’ midfield balance.
Deep into stoppage time, Liverpool escaped with a point. Victor Munoz drew a late penalty after a foul by Lewis Hall, and Dominik Szoboszlai buried it with icy calm. The scoreboard said 2-2. The performance said something very different.
Sturridge’s warning shot
For Sturridge, the late rescue act could not hide the structural issue.
"I think the team needs a defensive midfielder, personally," he said on Sky Sports after the game. "We've been talking about a defensive midfielder at Liverpool for the last three years and I think Gravenberch coming in and winning the league changed that philosophy."
The former England forward pointed to the same pattern many supporters have seen: a midfield packed with technical, attack-minded players, but short on one key profile.
"If you actually analyze the midfield, they're all naturally more attacking players," he argued.
That is where his frustration with Liverpool’s transfer business kicks in.
The Sangare question
Sturridge highlighted Brentford’s signing of Mamadou Sangare as the kind of move Liverpool could – and perhaps should – have made.
"The stats jump out on the page. They are third in interceptions, third in tackles, third in possession recovered," he noted. For a fee of £39 million ($52 million), Sturridge believes a club of Liverpool’s size should at least be in that conversation.
"For me, £39 million, you think to yourself, that's not a load of money for someone like Liverpool.
"I'm not suggesting he was the man, but the stats jump out the page. Liverpool don't have that profile of player right now."
The implication is clear: while others are quietly picking up ball-winners, Liverpool continue to stack their squad with creators.
Profiles out of sync
Sturridge did not limit his analysis to one name. He also touched on the club’s younger options, praising Trey Nyoni but underlining that he does not solve the problem either.
"Trey Nyoni, I really like him, but he's more of a ball playing eight," Sturridge said. "He's not a destroyer and won't strike fear in the opposition, like a Sangare can. Or an N'Golo Kante over the years."
Even Szoboszlai, Liverpool’s late penalty hero, came under tactical scrutiny.
"I also think, if I'm being honest, [Dominik] Szoboszlai is better as a no.10."
The message from a former Anfield favourite was blunt: Liverpool are loading their midfield with eights and tens, but still lack the six who knits it all together and protects the back line.
One game into Iraola’s reign, the question already hangs over Liverpool’s season: without a true defensive midfielder, how many more times will they be cut apart before the transfer window forces a rethink?
