Liverpool’s Midfield Revitalization: Addressing the Gaping Hole in the Squad
Liverpool Football Club had a difficult season in 2022/23, with their midfield being a major source of their struggles. With only three midfielders at their peak between the ages of 22 and 28, and two of those players combining for just 499 minutes, it was clear that the Reds needed to address the issue. This summer, Liverpool have taken two significant steps forward by signing Alexis Mac Allister (24) and Dominik Szoboszlai (22), and the average age of their midfield has dropped from 27.2 years to 24.75.
The Impact of Age on Liverpool’s Midfield
Liverpool’s midfield woes were largely due to their lack of investment in the position. Of their 10 midfield options last season, two were aged 20 and under and five were older than 29 years of age. This meant that only Naby Keita (28), Arthur (26) and Curtis Jones (22) fell into the prime age bracket between 22 and 28, and two were long destined to leave the club this summer. This resulted in just seven percent of their midfield minutes coming from prime aged players, the lowest in the Premier League.
The Impact of Energy on Liverpool’s Midfield
Jurgen Klopp requires high energy from his squad, and this is something that Liverpool failed to address for a long time. This was evident in their lack of success last season, and it was clear that they needed to make changes. With Jordan Henderson (32), Thiago (31), Fabinho (29), Mac Allister (24), Szoboszlai (22), Curtis Jones (22), Harvey Elliott (20) and Stefan Bajcetic (18), they now have a revitalised midfield unit.
The Future of Liverpool’s Midfield
Liverpool have taken steps to address the gaping hole in their squad, but there is still development and evolution required. The Reds can take the next step by landing a future prime aged midfielder in Romeo Lavia, but only time will tell if they can secure his signature for 2023/24 and beyond. Liverpool have made a positive start to their midfield revitalization this summer, but they must continue to invest in the position if they are to return to their former glory.