Liverpool Spent £123m on Barcola but Left Three Positions Vacant: Is Iraola Betting on Versatility or Shooting Himself in the Foot?

The summer transfer window has just closed with a haunting paradox at Anfield. Liverpool, the club with the highest net spend in the Premier League, spent a colossal amount of money to bring in high-quality attacking stars. But when looking at the list of signings, one cannot help but be startled: no right-back, no defensive midfielder, no right-winger. Three positions once considered the backbone of any big club, now left vacant. The Liverpool head coach, who has persistently defended the 'quality over quantity' strategy, is betting the entire season on the versatility of his wingers. Is this a genius gamble or a tactical mistake waiting to explode?

The summer transfer window is a stage where people buy stars and sell patience. Liverpool bought plenty of stars. Bradley Barcola, the young winger from Paris Saint-Germain, was signed for a potential fee of £123 million. This figure caught the attention of all of Europe. Additionally, they pursued Alexander Isak for £125 million and Florian Wirtz for £116 million, though neither deal ultimately succeeded. The money spent shows clear ambition: Liverpool wants to compete for the title immediately. But this very focus on attacking quality has created a massive void in defense.

Looking at the current squad structure, I recall what I have witnessed over many years of following English football. A team without a specialist right-back and defensive midfielder will face tremendous challenges against high-pressing opponents. Teams like Manchester City or Arsenal will ruthlessly exploit the space between Liverpool's midfield and defensive lines. Data from last season shows that when Liverpool lost the ball in this area, their rate of conceding goals increased significantly. This is not a problem that can be solved by the versatility of wingers.

The Liverpool head coach has spoken out to defend his decision: 'I think we've preferred at the end to have the best players, probably, than a player that maybe is specifically for that [right-sided] position. Probably all of them have played more on the left, but I would say I've seen them in a good place on the right.' This sounds reasonable, but the reality of elite football is not that simple. Mohamed Salah, whom Barcola is expected to replace in his old position, was not just a winger. He was a goal-scoring machine, capable of creating magic from one-touch situations. Barcola, despite his talent, has a different playing style - more inclined to dribble and cross than to make intelligent inward movements.

The versatility of wingers cannot replace the specialization required at right-back and defensive midfield. This is the most important insight I have drawn from this summer's market. There are stars that only shine where they are loved, not where the lights are brightest. But there are also positions on the pitch that cannot be filled with enthusiasm or adaptability alone. A right-back not only needs to know how to defend, he needs to understand how to combine with the winger, how to cover for the centre-back, how to control the tempo of the match. Similarly, a defensive midfielder is the silent shield, the one who reads the game before it unfolds.

During my years of watching Liverpool's matches last season, I noticed something: when the team faced pressure from high-pressing opponents, they often lost their bearings in midfield. The absence of a true defensive midfielder will exacerbate this issue. Opponents like Manchester City with Kevin De Bruyne, or Arsenal with Martin Odegaard, will find endless spaces between Liverpool's lines. This is not an academic prediction, but a reality proven over many seasons.

Financially, Liverpool is walking a fine line. Having the highest net spend in the Premier League is a proud figure but also a reminder of the pressure to comply with PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules). The recent point deductions for Everton and Nottingham Forest serve as a warning bell. Although there are no signs of violation yet, if Liverpool cannot sell players or achieve good results, they could fall into a difficult financial spiral. The decision not to spend on other positions, according to the coach, was for 'economical reasons' - this shows they are trying to control the wage bill and costs carefully.

I could be wrong, but I believe this strategy will come at a cost at crucial moments of the season. When the fixture schedule becomes congested, when injuries start to appear (an issue I always emphasize: fixture density is the biggest culprit of injuries), Liverpool will need players who can directly replace others. The versatility of Barcola, Gakpo, Muñoz and Ngumoha may help them get through matches against weaker opponents, but in the biggest games, the lack of specialization will be exposed.

This season will be a major test of the coach's philosophy. If Liverpool wins the title, we will have to reconsider everything. But if they fail, the question will be: why were the most important positions left vacant? I write against the wind, but my heart is never against football. I do not write to be agreed with. I write to awaken a sleeping question. And that question is: can versatility replace specialization in elite football? The season will answer.