Andoni Iraola speaks out on Liverpool’s midfield dilemma after Jamie Carragher criticism

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola will not restrain his squad's offensive instincts as they implement his tactical ideas, trusting them to sense danger when it develops on pitch.

Both goals conceded during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle stemmed from counter-attacks, exposing the side while their full-backs and whole midfield pressed high upfield.

The defensive weakness echoed issues under previous manager Arne Slot last term, when isolated centre-backs frequently left the team vulnerable, ultimately contributing to 52 goals conceded—their highest total during a 38-game Premier League season.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher raised significant concerns about the team’s midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz on Monday Night Football, saying: "I don't believe that midfield can function with the personnel in there. For me, it doesn't work. And it's not just about personnel, it's the structure the manager is asking."

But Iraola has no intention of directing his side to adopt a cautious approach for the upcoming visit of Nottingham Forest.

"You don’t want to lose the offensive side, the fluidity, the arrivals with numbers, but obviously we were punished the other day, especially in the first goal. We didn’t do a proper lockdown," he said.

"But there is a balance. We cannot go from one way where we send a lot of people forward to keeping everyone back so we don’t arrive with numbers.

"I don’t want to tell Ryan Gravenberch, ‘Don’t carry the ball and don’t arrive to the box’. It’s a matter of identifying the situation. You cannot be with the joystick every time (controlling) the player.

"There are players that are very good, they’re smelling, ‘OK, there is real danger, I can’t take the risk of going. Now I think I have to stay’. Recognising those situations is the job we have to do now."

The fixture represents Iraola’s first competitive fixture in charge at Anfield after joining from Bournemouth over the summer break.

However, Forest present a tough challenge, having claimed victory on their previous two visits while keeping clean sheets.

"We will have to earn every chance. They don’t give you (anything) for free. You have to be very good on the ball, be patient sometimes because they defensively are very solid," he added.

"They have also very good players up front and we have to control those situations, especially in the transitions because they also have good threats on the counter.

"But it’s definitely a special moment for me to play your first Premier League game at Anfield.

"I think it’s going to be emotional and I think it has to be like this. It is a special place. I’ve had to fight a lot to arrive to this place and I hope everything goes well and I can enjoy also the game."