Liverpool's Midfield Crisis: Sturridge Questions Summer Planning

Daniel Sturridge has thrown a sharp spotlight on Liverpool’s summer planning, questioning why the club passed on Mamadou Sangare after the Reds’ midfield was ripped open on the opening weekend at Newcastle United.

Old Problems, New Era

A new head coach, same familiar flaws.

Andoni Iraola’s first Premier League game in charge of Liverpool was supposed to signal a fresh start after Arne Slot’s departure. Instead, inside minutes at St. James’ Park, the old narrative returned. Ryan Gravenberch lost the ball high up the pitch, Newcastle broke with ease, and Liverpool’s midfield vanished in the rear-view mirror.

From back to front, Newcastle sliced through the visitors. Anthony Elanga finished the move, but the damage had already been done in the middle of the pitch.

Liverpool did respond. Early in the second half, Cody Gakpo dragged them level, hinting at a possible reset. That hope didn’t last long. Once again, Newcastle poured forward in transition, and this time substitute Joe Willock punished Iraola’s side. Same pattern. Same weakness. Different season.

Only deep into stoppage time did Liverpool escape with a point, thanks to a generous-looking penalty. Victor Munoz went down under a challenge from Lewis Hall, and Dominik Szoboszlai stayed ice-cool from the spot to make it 2-2.

The scoreline flattered Liverpool. The performance did not fool Sturridge.

Sturridge Targets Midfield Blind Spot

Speaking on Sky Sports after the game, the former Liverpool striker zeroed in on the heart of the team.

"I think the team needs a defensive midfielder, personally," he said. "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."

For Sturridge, the problem is structural. Too many midfielders who want to create, not enough who want to destroy.

"If you actually analyze the midfield, they're all naturally more attacking players," he argued.

That’s where Sangare comes in. The 24-year-old, who joined Brentford this summer, cost around £39 million ($52 million) — a figure Sturridge believes should have been well within Liverpool’s reach.

"The stats jump out on the page," he said. "They are third in interceptions, third in tackles, third in possession recovered. 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."

Sturridge’s point cut to the core: Liverpool had a chance to move for a ball-winner, a specialist in disrupting opposition attacks, and watched him go to a domestic rival for what he considers a reasonable fee.

No Destroyer, No Fear

Inside the squad, Sturridge sees talent but not the right balance.

He name-checked Trey Nyoni as a player he admires, yet again underlined the same theme.

"Trey Nyoni, I really like him, but he's more of a ball playing eight," he 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."

Szoboszlai, who rescued Liverpool from defeat with his late penalty, also came under tactical scrutiny rather than criticism of his quality.

"I also think, if I'm being honest, [Dominik] Szoboszlai is better as a no.10," Sturridge added.

It was a pointed remark. Liverpool are stacking creative, forward-thinking midfielders, yet the one profile they have lacked since the peak years of their title-winning side — an out-and-out defensive shield — remains unfilled.

A Warning After Week One

One game does not define a season, but it can expose fault lines. At Newcastle, Liverpool’s midfield was overrun on the break, just as it has been so often in recent campaigns.

Sturridge’s comments echo a growing concern: if Iraola is to build a side capable of sustaining a title challenge, can he really do it without a true defensive midfielder at the base of his system?

Liverpool escaped with a point on Tyneside. The bigger question is whether they can escape the consequences of another summer without a destroyer at the heart of their midfield.