Deconstructing the pressing failure

Andoni Iraola is inheriting a squad that recently endured a torrid title defence. To transition from Jurgen Klopp's high-octane heavy metal style—which collapsed under fatigue and structural fragmentation, leading to a PPDA regression to 11.2 from their peak of 8.5—to Iraola's hybrid, mid-block verticality requires tactical surgery.

The statistics from last season make grim reading. Liverpool’s PPDA (Passes Per Defensive Action) plummeted from an elite 8.5 to a sluggish 11.2, exposing a midfield that could no longer cover large spaces. Klopp’s heavy metal football ran out of steam. Now, Iraola must implement his signature vertical mid-block without the squad falling apart.

This transition is happening under severe pressure. Pre-season training has commenced, but the squad is far from settled. With a trip to Nashville to face Sunderland next weekend, followed by US fixtures against Wrexham and Leeds United, Iraola has very little time to drill his tactical patterns before the real work begins. Home friendlies against Monaco and Como will offer a final glimpse before the Premier League opener on August 23 at St James' Park against Newcastle. The full pre-season schedule is now set:

  • Sunderland (Nashville)
  • Wrexham (US Tour)
  • Leeds United (US Tour)
  • Monaco (Anfield)
  • Como (Anfield)

But the biggest problem is not the schedule. It is the massive void on the right wing. Mohamed Salah is gone. Replacing a forward who guaranteed 30 goal contributions a season is a daunting task.

The Salah vacancy and the French solution

Liverpool’s search for a replacement has led them straight to Paris. According to reports, Liverpool have submitted a bid for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola. The young Frenchman is a tantalizing talent, but he comes with a massive price tag.

PSG are demanding a staggering £127.5million for the forward. This is a jaw-dropping valuation for a player with only a handful of seasons at the highest level. Yet, Liverpool’s opening bid shows they are willing to enter club-to-club negotiations.

Barcola's spacing versus Salah's inside runs

Tactically, Barcola is a very different animal compared to Salah. While Salah was an inside-forward who looked to cut inside and shoot, Barcola is a touchline winger. He excels in isolating full-backs. Last season, he registered 5.8 progressive carries per 90 minutes.

Barcola also boasts a 57.1% dribble success rate in tight spaces. His ability to carry the ball from deep relieves pressure on the midfield. He does not possess Salah’s raw goalscoring volume, but his playmaking capability is superior. He stretches the pitch, creating space for underlapping runs.

However, paying over £120 million is a massive gamble. Liverpool's transfer strategy has historically relied on value, not bidding wars. Arsenal are also monitoring the situation, though they have not yet lodged a bid. If Liverpool hesitate, they risk losing another target to a rival.

Indeed, their search has already hit roadblocks. The club spent months tracking Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig. But the Ivorian defender has reportedly rejected Liverpool's advances. As outlined in The Mirror's summer round-up, Diomande is holding out for a move to PSG instead. Snubbing Anfield for Paris is a painful blow to Iraola's recruitment plans.

This rejection has forced Liverpool to look elsewhere. One intriguing option is PSG’s teenage sensation Ibrahim Mbaye. The 18-year-old Senegal international has been made available for transfer this summer. He is, in theory, the perfect developmental option.

Mbaye is represented by Jorge Mendes, who is currently managing his exit from Paris. Premier League and Bundesliga clubs are on high alert. For Liverpool, Mbaye represents a long-term development project rather than an immediate Salah replacement. But his raw athleticism fits Iraola’s vertical style perfectly.

The Mac Allister conundrum

While the attack is in flux, the midfield is facing an internal crisis. Alexis Mac Allister is the subject of intense speculation. Reports from Spain suggest the Argentine midfielder wants out.

Journalist Miguel Serrano claimed that an intermediary offered Mac Allister to Real Madrid. According to Serrano, the midfielder believes his time in England is done. Madrid are reportedly looking at a potential deal worth £85million.

"The latest player to be offered is Alexis Mac Allister. He is under contract with Liverpool until June 2028, and the player believes his time in England is over."

This is a worrying development. Mac Allister is under contract until June 2028, and the club remains calm about his future. Iraola has already held talks with him to explain his role in the team. But keeping a player who wants to leave is always a dangerous game.

Tactically, Mac Allister is irreplaceable in Iraola's setup. He is the connector. Last season, he recorded a 88.4% pass completion rate under pressure. He possesses the rare ability to receive the ball under heavy pressure, turn, and find a progressive pass. In Iraola's vertical transition scheme, the number six is tasked with orchestrating fast horizontal shifts before launching a vertical ball to the winger. Without Mac Allister's spatial awareness and press-resistant technique, Liverpool risk becoming predictable and static.

If Mac Allister is sold, the midfield loses its brain. If he stays but remains unhappy, his performances could suffer. Liverpool cannot afford a distracted midfielder in a transition season.

To offset these concerns, Liverpool are quietly strengthening other areas. They have agreed a deal to sign 17-year-old Colombian midfielder Samuel Martinez. The Reds beat Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Borussia Dortmund to his signature.

The fee is a modest £740,000, paid to Atletico Nacional. Martinez will remain in Colombia on loan for another year before arriving at Anfield next summer. Bayern Munich scouts reportedly compared his style of play to Kaka.

Signing Martinez is a coup, but it does not solve Iraola’s immediate depth issues. The squad needs defensive reinforcements now. Specifically, they require a left-back to compete with Andrew Robertson.

Svensson's defensive stability

To fill this gap, Liverpool have a concrete plan to sign Swedish defender Daniel Svensson. The Borussia Dortmund left-back is valued at £42.5million. Arsenal are also interested, setting up a potential transfer scrap.

Svensson is a modern, defensive-minded left-back. He wins 62.3% of his defensive duels and is comfortable tucking inside to form a back three. This tactical flexibility is exactly what Iraola needs to protect against counter-attacks. Robertson’s offensive instincts often leave the left flank exposed. Svensson would provide much-needed balance, allowing the right-sided full-back to push higher up into the half-spaces during build-up phases.

But Dortmund are holding firm on their valuation. Liverpool's transfer budget is already stretched by the pursuit of Barcola. Spending over £40 million on a backup left-back seems unlikely unless player sales generate significant funds.

This highlights the overall weakness of Liverpool's summer. They are caught between two stools. They need elite replacements for departing stars, but they are unwilling or unable to pay the premium prices demanded by European rivals.

The pre-season tour will expose these squad deficiencies. When Liverpool face Sunderland in Nashville, Iraola will have to rely on young arrivals like Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz. Jacquet, a towering presence signed from Rennes, represents physical potential but lacks the positional discipline needed for a high-intensity Premier League transition. Munoz, arriving from Osasuna, offers industrious running down the flank but does not have the technical refinement to replicate the ball-carrying output that Salah provided. These players are talented, but they are not ready to lead a Premier League title charge.

The tactical system will be tested to its limits. Iraola’s teams play with high intensity and vertical speed. If the players are not fully committed, or if the squad lacks quality depth, they will be picked apart by physical teams.

The opening match at St James' Park will be a brutal test. Newcastle are a physical, aggressive side that thrives on transition. If Liverpool’s midfield is disjointed, and the right wing remains vacant, it will be a long afternoon on Tyneside.

Iraola must find a way to get Mac Allister focused. He must also convince the board to secure Barcola, regardless of the cost. Without these two pieces of the puzzle, the new manager is fighting with one hand tied behind his back.

My prediction is a tough, scrappy season opener. Newcastle will exploit Liverpool's transition vulnerability. I expect a 2-1 defeat for the Reds on August 23, exposing the squad's lack of readiness and highlighting the desperate need for final transfer business.