Patience the key to Liverpool’s midfield molehill

Questions have been asked of Liverpool’s midfield this season but is there genuine cause for concern?

Few can deny that Liverpool boasted one of the most feared attacks in all of soccer last season. Led by the breathtaking trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Premier League Golden Boot winner, Mohamed Salah, the club bludgeoned an incredible 135 goals across all competitions. The attacking triumvirate was responsible for 91 of that tally (or 67 percent) as Liverpool charged towards the Champions League final and a strong finish in the Premier League.

The goal-scoring exploits of last season were always going to be tough to repeat and while the club has started the current campaign in strong form, that same vigor in front of goal has notably been missing. Firmino, Mane and Salah have amassed 10 goals between them but a general profligacy in front of goal in recent weeks has seen questions raised not only of them but of Liverpool’s midfield too.

The club’s entire midfield contingent only scored 15 goals among them last season (or 9 percent) excluding the 12 goals scored by Philippe Coutinho prior to his departure. The barnstorming form of the aforementioned front three meant the Brazilian’s absence was scarcely felt but with goals flowing less freely this season, the creative and attacking deficiencies of Liverpool’s midfield have been brought to light.

The Reds have scored 19 goals across all competitions of which only three have come from the middlemen, and two of those came courtesy of James Milner penalties. Georginio Wijnaldum is the only midfield player to have scored a goal from open play and the engine room isn’t creating many goals either with Milner the only midfield player to have recorded more than one assist.

If the media are to be believed, Jurgen Klopp is concerned by the current position and, despite investing heavily in Fabinho and Naby Keita at the start of the season, is said to be looking to beef up his midfield options. The likes of Nicolo Barella, Kerem Demirbay and Aaron Ramsey have all been linked. Others, such as 19-year old Kai Havertz might serve as a better alternative but in any event, the club already has at their disposal the tools to overcome what may well be a temporary concern.

While Coutinho’s role is yet to be filled, thanks in no small part to a collapsed move for Nabil Fekir, the signings of Fabinho and Keita have significantly strengthened Liverpool’s midfield. The pair is yet to hit full stride but will contribute massively once settled. Fabinho is the club’s only specialist defensive midfielder and once he works his way into the side will allow those alongside him more freedom to attack. Keita’s attacking prowess is well-documented and he will grow into an increasingly threatening role as the season progresses.

There have also been calls to push Wijnaldum into a more advanced role. The Dutchman, who enjoyed prolific spells in front of goal with his former employers, has historically been deployed in a deeper position under Klopp with the result that his goalscoring return has declined. In a recent international match against Germany, however, the former PSV and Newcastle star showed that he still possesses his goal-scoring instincts and he may well be more of an asset further up the pitch.

When you consider Liverpool’s existing options then, which of course also includes captain Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, and the currently-injured Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, calls for wholesale change appear premature. Once the new signings have settled and the existing crop adapts to new roles, fluidity will return to the midfield which will undoubtedly have a positive knock-on effect on the club’s front three.

Knee-jerk tactical reactions and new signings seldom offer satisfactory solutions and this scenario is no different. A patient approach will bear far greater rewards and see the return of Liverpool’s free-scoring form of last season.