Liverpool's engine room is falling apart while Andoni Iraola looks elsewhere

Why Iraola's Attack Obsession Left Liverpool Exposed

Andoni Iraola arrived at Anfield with an uncompromising tactical identity built on relentless forward pressing, instantaneous vertical passes, and aggressive wide overloads. For the past two months, Liverpool's recruitment committee has funneled almost all its time and resources into chasing PSG winger Bradley Barcola. The internal logic was understandable on paper: secure a high-ceiling successor for Mohamed Salah on the right flank and provide Iraola with another explosive forward to stretch opposing backlines.

That hyper-fixation on the front three has created a gaping blindspot in the middle of the pitch. While negotiators haggled over transfer fees in Paris, Liverpool's central engine room fell into structural disrepair. As detailed by Mirror Football, Iraola now faces a high-stakes pivot toward rebuilding his midfield just nineteen days before the transfer deadline on September 1.

Iraola’s Basque pressing system places enormous physical demands on its central midfielders. In his high-octane setup at Bournemouth, he relied on energetic ball-winners who could cover immense lateral ground. At Liverpool, the central pairing must sprint into wide trapping zones while staying disciplined enough to anchor the rest-defense when turnovers occur. Without destroyers who can read developing counter-attacks, Iraola’s high defensive line becomes an invitation for opponents to attack open space.

During Sunday's pre-season fixture against Monaco, those structural flaws were laid bare. Whenever Monaco bypassed Liverpool's initial three-man front block, vast pockets of space opened up behind the attack. Monaco easily worked the ball through the central channels, exposing a disconnected midfield that lacked both lateral quickness and defensive cohesion. Playing that way when competitive Premier League points are on the line will prove costly.

The Curtis Jones Exit Route and Inter Milan's Liquidity

The instability in Liverpool's midfield turned from a hypothetical concern into an urgent crisis when Curtis Jones was left out of Sunday's squad against Monaco. While Iraola publicly downplayed the omission as a precautionary measure, transfer activity across Europe suggests a far more dramatic scenario is unfolding behind closed doors. Inter Milan have registered a firm interest in the 25-year-old midfielder and are maneuvering to bring him to Serie A.

Inter's pursuit is being unlocked by a series of midfield transfers in Italy. Champions Inter have reached a verbal agreement to send midfielder Davide Frattesi to Lazio on loan. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, that move involves an initial £850,000 loan fee combined with an £11m option to buy, giving Inter the financial room required to formalize an approach for Jones.

Reports from Sky Italia indicate Inter are prepared to test Liverpool with an opening offer of £30m. Anfield officials hold out for a fee closer to £35m, but the contract situation leaves Liverpool on shaky ground. Jones has entered the final twelve months of his Anfield contract, meaning Liverpool risk losing a valuable homegrown asset for nothing next summer if they refuse to sell now.

Speaking after the pre-season match against Monaco, Iraola attempted to calm speculation regarding the academy graduate's future.

Despite his manager's reassurances, losing Jones would remove Iraola's most press-resistant central passer. Jones offers rare ball retention under heavy pressure, shielding the ball in tight central areas and allowing Liverpool to control the tempo of matches. Selling him without a proven replacement lined up would represent a significant failure of squad management.

Alexis Mac Allister, City's Shadow, and the Turkish Inquiries

The potential departure of Jones is only one component of the trouble brewing in Liverpool's engine room. Alexis Mac Allister is coming off a frustrating 2025/26 campaign in which his influence and physical metrics dropped noticeably. The Argentine World Cup winner, who joined Liverpool from Brighton in 2023, struggled with fatigue and defensive coverage during the second half of last season.

Under Jurgen Klopp, Mac Allister was often forced to play as a deep-lying six, spending energy on defensive positioning rather than driving forward. In Iraola's higher-tempo system, his lack of recovery speed has been exposed against athletic midfields. With Mac Allister now entering the final two years of his Anfield deal, clubs across Europe are taking notice.

Turkish outlet Yeni Asir reports that Galatasaray have formally declared their interest through intermediaries, seeking to gauge Mac Allister's wage expectations and potential transfer availability. Galatasaray see an opportunity to land a world-class midfielder whose standing at Anfield has become uncertain.

More troubling for Liverpool is interest emerging from closer to home. According to reports highlighted by talkSPORT, Manchester City have placed Mac Allister on their transfer shortlist as a potential replacement for Rodri, who continues to be linked with a high-profile move to Barcelona. While talkSPORT notes there has been no official contact between City and Liverpool yet, City's interest demonstrates how fragile Liverpool's contractual hold on their core players currently is.

Mac Allister remains one of only three fully established senior midfielders in Iraola's squad alongside Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai. If Mac Allister's focus is divided by transfer noise or if City decide to formalize their interest, Liverpool's tactical foundation could crumble before September arrives.

Depth Crisis Beyond Gravenberch and Szoboszlai

Behind the primary trio of Mac Allister, Gravenberch, and Szoboszlai, Liverpool's midfield depth is alarming. Secondary options like Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott, and Stefan Bajcetic have all been the subject of exit rumors this summer. That leaves 19-year-old Trey Nyoni as the only reserve midfielder guaranteed to stay with the squad.

Each of those potential departures carries tactical weight. Wataru Endo is 33 and nearing the end of his peak utility, Harvey Elliott is an attacking hybrid lacking defensive discipline, and Stefan Bajcetic is still working back to full sharpness after extended injury layoffs. Stripping away those options leaves Iraola with zero margin for error.

Expecting Nyoni to step into high-stakes Premier League and European fixtures as primary midfield cover is an unreasonable burden for a teenager. While Nyoni possesses undeniable technical talent, asking him to solve structural defensive issues in Iraola's system is a dangerous gamble that could stall his development.

Some observers point out that Gravenberch and Szoboszlai have the physical profiles to shoulder heavy minutes in a double-pivot. However, forcing two naturally attacking box-to-box players to absorb continuous defensive transitions without adequate rotation will lead to fatigue, tactical breakdowns, and injuries over a long season.

Against top-tier opponents who excel at quick counter-attacking play, a midfield without specialized defensive instincts gets torn apart. Monaco exposed those exact vulnerabilities in pre-season, carving through Liverpool's central space with simple off-the-ball runs. Without experienced defensive specialists to close passing lanes, Iraola's high-pressing style carries massive risk.

Boardroom Mismanagement and the September 1 Reality

Liverpool's current predicament is the direct result of poor strategic planning by the club hierarchy. Allowing key midfielders like Jones to reach the final year of their contracts while Mac Allister enters his final two years without clear resolution is poor asset management. Spending all summer pursuing a marquee winger like Barcola while ignoring the defensive spine of the team has left the manager in an uncomfortable position.

With the transfer window closing on September 1, Iraola and the recruitment team must pivot immediately. If Inter Milan meet Liverpool's £35m valuation for Jones, those funds must be reallocated toward a dominant central midfielder who can protect the defense and control match tempo. Continuing to prioritize attacking shiny objects over central balance will jeopardize Liverpool's ambitions for the season.

Expect Inter Milan to finalize a deal for Jones in the coming days, leaving Liverpool scrambling for a replacement in the final fortnight of the window. Iraola will likely be forced to start the season with an improvised midfield double-pivot, relying on individual brilliance to mask clear structural defects until the club fixes its engine room.