Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle United provided an entertaining start to the season, but the result also exposed several questions Andoni Iraola needs to answer.
The Reds twice came from behind at St James’ Park, with Dominik Szoboszlai’s late penalty securing a point.
While the comeback demonstrated Liverpool’s resilience, their performance also highlighted the importance of finding the right tactical balance.
A promising attack, but defensive concerns
Liverpool showed plenty of attacking intent throughout the match.
However, their willingness to commit players forward occasionally left gaps that Newcastle were able to exploit.
The midfield was particularly important, with Liverpool needing to find a balance between supporting the attack and protecting the defence.
Iraola acknowledged the importance of players adapting to different situations during his post-match press conference.
“We have to adapt as coaches to this situation,” Iraola said, referring to the challenges created by Liverpool’s evolving squad and the transfer window.
He also stressed the importance of the team responding collectively when situations change during a match.
That could become one of the defining characteristics of Liverpool under Iraola.
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What could change tactically?
The Newcastle match suggested that Liverpool may need greater defensive security when their attacking players move forward.
Rather than simply asking individual players to defend when possession is lost, Iraola could look to establish a more structured rest-defence system.
This would allow Liverpool to continue attacking aggressively while ensuring that enough players remain behind the ball to deal with counter-attacks.
The midfield could therefore become particularly important.
Liverpool need players capable of progressing the ball but also recognising when to slow the game down and protect their defensive shape.
That could mean slightly more conservative positioning from one of the midfielders when the full-backs or other attacking players push forward.
The objective would not necessarily be to make Liverpool more defensive.
Instead, it would allow them to attack with greater confidence because there would be better protection behind the ball.
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Could new transfers help?
Liverpool’s transfer activity could have a significant influence on how quickly Iraola can establish his preferred system.
The club have already invested heavily in their squad, but reports continue to link Liverpool with further additions before the transfer window closes.
One reported midfield target is Monaco’s Lamine Camara, who has been linked with a potential move to Anfield.
A player of that profile could give Iraola another option in midfield and potentially provide greater flexibility when Liverpool need to control matches.
Bradley Barcola has also been linked with a move to Liverpool, and the Paris Saint-Germain winger could add another dynamic option in the final third.
Barcola’s pace and ability to take on defenders could give Liverpool another way to break down opposition defences, particularly when teams sit deeper.
His arrival could also give Iraola greater freedom to rotate his attacking players and reduce the pressure on Liverpool’s existing forwards to create opportunities themselves.
Liverpool’s attacking depth could also influence their tactical approach.
The more quality Iraola has available in the final third, the less pressure there is on individual players.
That could allow Liverpool to be more patient in possession rather than constantly trying to force the game forward.
However, new signings will not immediately solve every problem.
Iraola will still need to build an understanding between his players and establish clear responsibilities when Liverpool lose possession.
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The importance of Nottingham Forest
Liverpool’s next league fixture against Nottingham Forest provides an ideal opportunity to address some of those concerns.
Forest have previously caused Liverpool problems at Anfield, making this a potentially difficult early-season test.
Liverpool will need to avoid allowing the match to become stretched.
Forest are likely to look for opportunities to attack quickly when Liverpool lose possession, meaning Liverpool’s defensive structure will again be tested.
The Reds should therefore look to control the tempo for longer periods.
If Liverpool can dominate possession while maintaining a strong structure behind the ball, they should give their attacking players more opportunities to influence the game.
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What should we expect?
The Newcastle draw should not be viewed as a major concern for Liverpool.
Instead, it provided Iraola with an early indication of where his team still needs to improve.
The most encouraging aspect was Liverpool’s ability to fight back twice.
The biggest concern was how easily the game could become open when Newcastle found opportunities to attack.
Against Forest, Liverpool should therefore look for greater control without sacrificing their attacking identity.
The next few weeks will also be crucial in the transfer market.
If Liverpool add another midfielder or attacking option, Iraola will have more tools available to develop his system.
For now, though, the priority is finding consistency.
The Newcastle draw showed that Liverpool have the character to recover from difficult situations.
The challenge against Forest will be showing that they can prevent those situations from developing in the first place.
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Nicole Powell 
SportJustSport writers