Liverpool's Draw at Newcastle Highlights Key Squad Flaws

Liverpool staggered away from St James’ Park with a point, not a plan.

A 99th‑minute penalty from Dominik Szoboszlai spared Andoni Iraola a debut defeat, but it did little to disguise the structural flaws laid bare by Newcastle United’s counter-attacking. Liverpool were cut open twice in transition, looked disjointed in key areas, and needed late chaos rather than control to escape with a 2-2 draw on the opening weekend.

Anthony Elanga struck after just five minutes, punishing a stretched Liverpool side on Tyneside. Cody Gakpo briefly dragged them level with a long-range hit, only for Joe Willock to restore Newcastle’s lead two minutes later. The pattern was familiar: Liverpool committed bodies forward, lost their shape, and paid for it.

The drama came at the death. Deep into stoppage time, substitute Victor Munoz drew a clumsy foul from Lewis Hall in the box. Szoboszlai stepped up and hammered in a spectacular spot-kick, a ruthless finish that masked the fragility behind him.

The late rescue act doesn’t change the wider picture. This is a squad still short in four key positions with the September 1 deadline looming.

Right-back: Upgrade urgently required

Jeremie Frimpong has been at Liverpool for a year. His standout moments have almost all come going forward.

His pace is obvious. His defending is not. At St James’ Park, his delivery from wide areas was poor and his work without the ball exposed. When Liverpool were forced to soak up pressure and defend space, he struggled.

As an attacking option at home, against deep blocks, Frimpong can be useful. As a starting right-back away to aggressive, athletic sides, this performance underlined the risk. With Conor Bradley sidelined for months and Joe Gomez often unavailable, Liverpool are walking a tightrope in a crucial position.

They need a right-back who can lock down that flank in hostile environments, not just one who sprints forward when the game is comfortable.

Left-back: Kerkez needs real competition

Iraola’s arrival was meant to help unlock Milos Kerkez. If this is the benchmark, left-back becomes a major concern.

Kerkez looked vulnerable, and behind him the safety net is thin. Kostas Tsimikas remains the main back-up, but he has never convinced as a long-term starter for Liverpool. He offers energy and a decent delivery, yet he does not apply the sustained, high-level consistency required to genuinely threaten Kerkez’s place.

Selling Tsimikas and bringing in a more experienced, composed left-back who can both mentor and challenge Kerkez would change the complexion of that side of the pitch. Right now, it feels like a position Liverpool are hoping will sort itself out rather than one they have truly secured.

You could make a strong case they should never have allowed Andy Robertson to leave.

Midfield shield: A destroyer or trouble ahead

A two-man pivot of Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai is high-risk. On Saturday, it was punished.

Neither is naturally inclined to sit, screen, and destroy. Both want to step forward, to press, to get on the ball. That attacking instinct left Liverpool exposed from the first whistle. For Newcastle’s opener, Gravenberch and Szoboszlai were the two furthest Liverpool players up the pitch as the hosts broke.

Szoboszlai presses with enthusiasm, but in a pivot he lacks the positional discipline to control transitions. Gravenberch’s off-the-ball positioning and passing radar also dipped below the required standard. When Liverpool lost possession, the space behind them was vast and unprotected.

Unless a midfielder arrives who can cover ground, win duels and read danger consistently, Liverpool will continue to concede from counters. That profile simply does not exist in the current squad.

Brentford’s Ibrahim Sangare looked an ideal fit before his move, and Monaco’s Lamine Camara has been mentioned as an alternative. Whoever it is, the need is obvious: a defensive-minded anchor who lets the more expressive midfielders breathe without leaving the back line exposed.

Right wing: Talent out of position

Rio Ngumoha has enormous potential. That much is clear. But he is not a right winger, and this game underlined it.

Stationed on the right, the teenager failed to complete a single dribble and touched the ball just once in the Newcastle penalty area. His only shot was blocked. The threat he usually carries simply evaporated.

Ngumoha’s best work comes when he starts on the left, cuts inside on his stronger right foot and drives at defenders. On the opposite flank, Liverpool need something very different: a left-footer who can come inside and pose a constant shooting and crossing threat.

Yankuba Minteh fits that description and is thought to be attainable before the deadline, but his fitness issues mean he would not be available until at least October. That leaves Liverpool with a positional puzzle on the right and precious little time to solve it.

The point at Newcastle keeps the Iraola era from starting with a defeat. It does not hide the fact that, without decisive work in the market at right-back, left-back, defensive midfield and right wing, Liverpool’s season could be defined by late escapes instead of lasting control.