Match Overview

Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle United at St James’ Park saw the Reds dominated for most of the match. Newcastle opened the scoring in the fourth minute through Anthony Elanga, and the hosts capitalised on Liverpool’s slow transition to add a second goal on the counter-attack. Liverpool were forced into a defensive posture and only salvaged a point when a last-minute penalty converted the match to a draw.

Carragher’s Critique

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher took to social media to voice his frustration with the midfield’s performance. He posted, “LFC midfield all bombing forward happened all pre-season, madness!” and later, “Again! This midfield cannot work, I said it before a competitive ball was kicked.” Carragher’s comments underline his belief that the current midfield arrangement is fundamentally flawed.

Midfield Composition

Liverpool’s starting midfield for the match was set up by manager Andoni Iraola with Florian Wirtz as the number 10, while Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai were positioned behind him. Carragher noted that the team has been missing a natural defensive midfielder for several years, a gap that has become apparent since last season. He pointed out that the absence of a player like Fabinho, Georginio Wijnaldum or Jordan Henderson-who previously provided balance-has left Liverpool vulnerable to quick breaks.

Carragher added that the current lineup is “too many attacking players on the pitch” and that the team “just wants to bomb forward.” He criticised the “end-to-end” style that Liverpool often play, arguing that top teams do not operate with such a high-intensity, all-out attacking approach. According to Carragher, the lack of defensive solidity is a problem that was evident during pre-season and will persist if the club continues with its present three-man midfield.

The Bigger Picture

Carragher’s remarks echo concerns that have been raised about Liverpool’s tactical approach since the departure of key midfielders. He has repeatedly warned that the team’s current style is unsustainable against teams that can exploit counter-attacks. The 2-2 draw, with Newcastle’s counter-attacks proving decisive, serves as a concrete illustration of the issues Carragher has highlighted.

The match ended 2-2 after a last-minute penalty.