Exciting Players—But Is This a Balanced Liverpool Team?
A full evaluation of the summer transfer window, Andoni Iraola’s football, pre-season and Liverpool’s opening two Premier League matches.
Liverpool have bought exciting footballers—but they do not yet look like a balanced team. There is pace, courage and attacking potential. There is also a midfield that can be bypassed, a defence exposed in transition and a team still learning when to attack, when to press and when to protect itself.
Liverpool fell behind twice in both matches. They showed character to recover—but recovery cannot become the weekly game plan.
A Completely New Chapter
The most important summer change was not a player. It was the head coach. Andoni Iraola replaced Arne Slot in June 2026 and immediately began building a faster, more vertical and aggressive Liverpool.
With the ball
- 4-2-3-1 starting structure
- Full-backs advancing aggressively
- Wirtz receiving between the lines
- Fast, vertical attacks
- Several runners entering the box
Without the ball
- High and aggressive press
- Quick pressure after possession is lost
- Attempts to force rushed passes
- Large spaces appear if the first press fails
- Centre-backs can become isolated
THE BALANCE IS NOT YET RIGHT.
Iraola wants attacking fluidity and numbers in advanced positions. However, he has also acknowledged the need for a proper defensive “lockdown” behind those attacks. Players must recognise when the risk is too high and remain in position. This is not merely a formation issue—it is a decision-making issue.
The 2026 Transfer Window
| Arrival | Position | Reported deal | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley Barcola | Winger | About £106m from PSG | Pace, one-against-one threat and post-Salah firepower |
| Víctor Muñoz | Forward / winger | About £34.5m from Osasuna | Direct running, intensity and goals |
| Jérémy Jacquet | Centre-back | About £55m from Rennes | Youth, recovery ability and defensive renewal |
| Ronald Araújo | Centre-back | Loan from Barcelona; option reported | Experience, aggression and speed |
| Ifeanyi Ndukwe | Centre-back | About £2.6m | Long-term development |
| Lucca Brughmans | Goalkeeper | Reported £28–30m; loaned back | Future succession planning |
Speed. Youth. Athleticism. Directness. These players suit Iraola’s football—but suitability does not automatically create balance.
The experience that walked out
- Mohamed Salah — Trabzonspor
- Andrew Robertson — Tottenham Hotspur
- Ibrahima Konaté — Real Madrid
- Curtis Jones — Inter Milan
- Stefan Bajčetić — Celta Vigo
- Harvey Elliott — loan to Valencia
Liverpool did not only lose goals. They lost availability, leadership, penalty-box intelligence and a player capable of deciding matches when the collective performance was poor. Barcola may become outstanding, but he should not immediately be expected to reproduce nine years of Salah’s influence.
What Pre-Season Revealed
| Opponent | Result | Message |
|---|---|---|
| Sunderland | Won 4–2 | Attacking firepower, but chances conceded |
| Wrexham | Won 1–0 | Control and a clean sheet |
| Leeds United | Lost 2–4 | Transition defence exposed |
| Monaco | Lost 2–3 | Defensive fragility repeated |
| Como, closed game | Drew 0–0 | More control, limited attack |
| Como | Won 2–0 | Encouraging final preparation |
The defeats by Leeds and Monaco were the clearest warnings. Both full-backs were encouraged to advance, attacking players occupied ambitious positions and too few players were consistently prepared for the moment possession was lost.
Game 1: Newcastle 2–2 Liverpool
Liverpool began in a 4-2-3-1 with Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk and Kerkez; Szoboszlai and Gravenberch; Ngumoha, Wirtz and Gakpo behind Isak.
What worked
- Long spells of possession
- Greater urgency after halftime
- Gakpo’s equalising strike
- Strong impact from Muñoz
- Character until the 99th minute
What failed
- Attacks were not completed decisively
- Poor protection after losing the ball
- Newcastle exploited open space
- Centre-backs faced fast counterattacks
- Possession did not equal control
If you commit players forward, you must either finish the attack or be positioned to stop the counterattack. Liverpool too frequently did neither.
Game 2: Liverpool 2–2 Forest
Forest scored through Dan Ndoye. Alexander Isak equalised, Morgan Gibbs-White restored Forest’s lead from the penalty spot, and Muñoz rescued Liverpool with an excellent 82nd-minute strike.
Positive signs
- Wirtz grew into the match
- Pressing produced encouraging moments
- Isak opened his league account
- Substitutes added energy
- Muñoz showed confidence and power
Serious concerns
- Slow, low-intensity first half
- Forest threatened in transition
- Weak protection from midfield
- Problems defending throw-ins
- Urgency arrived only after falling behind
Twice against Newcastle and twice against Forest, Liverpool required an equaliser. The fighting spirit is excellent. The inability to control the scoreline is not.
Evaluating the Current Team
Goalkeepers — 9/10
Alisson remains elite and Mamardashvili is a first-team-quality alternative. This is Liverpool’s most secure department.
Centre-backs — 7/10
Van Dijk supplies authority. Araújo adds aggression and Jacquet has potential. But age, injuries, adaptation and the space created by the system remain concerns.
Full-backs
Attack: 8/10. Defence: 6/10. Frimpong and Kerkez provide energy and penetration. The risk is allowing both to advance without adequate cover.
Midfield
Technique: 8/10. Structure: 6.5/10. Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch and Mac Allister offer quality. Liverpool still need consistent defensive discipline and positional control.
Attack — 8.5/10 potential
Barcola, Wirtz, Gakpo, Muñoz and Isak offer frightening possibilities. Fitness, chemistry and replacing Salah’s output are the unanswered questions.
Leadership
Van Dijk and Alisson remain crucial. The departures of Salah, Robertson and Konaté removed enormous experience from the dressing room.
The Most Important Tactical Correction
Liverpool do not need to abandon attacking football. They need stronger rest defence: the positioning of the players left behind the attack, already prepared for a possible turnover.
- Two centre-backs remain connected
- One full-back holds a deeper position
- One midfielder protects the centre
- The remaining players can attack with greater freedom
Asymmetry may be essential. When one full-back attacks, the other may need to stay. When Wirtz moves forward, one midfielder must resist joining him. Discipline behind the ball can actually liberate the attackers.
Transfer Verdict
What Liverpool did well
- Added pace and explosiveness
- Signed players suited to the new coach
- Invested in immediate and future talent
- Added centre-back options
- Found a direct weapon in Muñoz
What may be missing
- An established defensive midfielder
- A dependable second striker during Ekitike’s absence
- More proven defensive experience
- A replacement for Salah’s leadership
- Midfield depth after Jones and Elliott left
My Early Verdict
It is far too early to declare Iraola a success or failure. Liverpool create chances, possess speed and continue fighting. Wirtz is finding dangerous positions, Muñoz has made an immediate impression, and Barcola has not yet been integrated.
But two points from Newcastle away and Forest at home are below Liverpool’s standard. More worrying than the results is the pattern: the team appears to need adversity before playing with its highest urgency.
THEY HAVE NOT YET SHOWN THE BALANCE OR CONTROL REQUIRED TO CHALLENGE FOR THE TITLE.
The next stage is not about collecting more exciting names. It is about turning exciting individuals into a functioning team.
Sources & Further Reading
- Liverpool FC: Iraola on transfers and tactical balance
- Coaches’ Voice: Newcastle 2–2 Liverpool tactical analysis
- Liverpool FC: Forest match analysis and Opta data
- Reuters: Liverpool 2–2 Nottingham Forest report
- Sports Mole: squad, depth and pre-season review
Transfer fees are reported figures and may include add-ons. Tactical ratings are the author’s assessment after pre-season and the opening two league fixtures.
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