Andoni Iraola’s post-match comments after Liverpool’s brutal 4-2 defeat to Leeds in Chicago on Sunday were seriously telling. “Obviously it’s not the result you want but I think [it was] probably the most useful friendly we played,” he said, talking about learning “a lot” and needing to “solve some things.” When a manager says that, you know there are problems.
The Defense Is Giving Us Heart Attacks
Six goals conceded in just three matches on the USA tour is already rough, but *four* of those came against Leeds in a mind-numbing 25 second-half minutes! That’s a total meltdown. The starting backline featured Jeremie Frimpong, Luke Chambers, Ifeanye Ndukwe, and Milos Kerkez. By the final whistle, it was Calvin Ramsay, Mor Talla Ndiaye, Ndukwe, and Kostas Tsimikas. While a youthful defense earned a clean sheet against Wrexham earlier in New York, Leeds, with a legit Premier League striker in Dominic Calvert-Lewin, just carved us up. Only Kerkez is even considered an expected starter for the season, which is not good at all.
Iraola Is Begging For Reinforcements, Are We Listening?
Captain Virgil van Dijk is back in training, thank goodness, but he needs a centre-half partner ASAP! We kick off our Premier League campaign at Newcastle in fewer than three weeks, and our depth is nonexistent. Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni are both unavailable. New signing Jeremy Jacquet hasn’t played a single minute on this tour as he manages his return. Iraola has been screaming it: the side is “thin” at the back. We lost experienced defenders Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate. Jacquet and Leoni are big talents, but totally unproven. Gomez’s injury record means he isn’t patching up any holes. Sporting director Richard Hughes was at the earlier friendlies, but not the Leeds game. He better know we need at least one centre-back, and possibly a right-back too, with Conor Bradley “way off” a return. We can’t have Szoboszlai playing emergency right-back like Arne Slot did last season! He even said, “Hopefully he puts me in midfield but if he needs me at right-back, happy to do that.” We need a true, experienced defender.
Who’s Stepping Up When It Hits The Fan?
Former captain Phil Thompson hit the nail on the head: we need experienced players and a strong leadership group. He looked back at Jurgen’s league-winning squad, saying that leadership has “dwindled.” We’ve lost good players, and people absolutely need to step up. The dressing room needs to be tight, laying down player rules, because when things get tough, you need those strong voices. Right now, he sees only Virgil and Alisson. Thompson believes Szoboszlai has to step up too. Meanwhile, Bradley Barcola, with 39 goals in 152 appearances for PSG, remains the primary target. We need him, and we need more.
So, what’s next? Newcastle is coming fast, less than three weeks out. The defensive problems are glaring, Iraola knows it, the fans know it, and the transfer window is still open. Let’s hope Hughes and the front office are making moves, because right now, this backline is a ticking time bomb.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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