Liverpool began their new Premier League campaign with a frustrating 2-2 draw away to Newcastle United. While the Reds eventually rescued a point in stoppage time, the result exposed several problems that could become increasingly difficult to ignore as the season progresses.
Elsewhere, Arsenal made a perfect start with a 3-0 win over Coventry, while Manchester United surprisingly lost 0-2 away to newly promoted Hull City. Tottenham, despite spending more than €300 million during the summer, suffered a heavy 0-3 defeat at Brentford.
For Liverpool, however, the biggest concern is not simply the result at St James’ Park. It is the imbalance in their squad.
Liverpool dominated several statistical areas against Newcastle, but they were twice forced to come from behind.
Their starting XI was built around a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Alexander Isak leading the line and Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha operating from the flanks. Florian Wirtz played behind the striker, while Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai formed the midfield pairing.
On paper, Liverpool had significantly more individual quality.
Their starting XI was reportedly worth around €610 million, almost twice Newcastle’s estimated squad value. Yet that superiority did not translate into a comfortable victory.
Gakpo eventually scored the equaliser, while Szoboszlai produced the late goal that rescued Liverpool from defeat.
The problem was obvious: Liverpool lacked enough consistent attacking threat around Isak.
The departure of Mohamed Salah has left a huge hole on the right side of the attack, and the club still have not found a convincing replacement.
That is why the interest in Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola makes sense.
According to reports, Liverpool are also considering a package involving Barcola and young forward Ibrahim Mbaye. PSG would reportedly be delighted to move players out, but naturally want to maximise the transfer income.
The combined asking price could reach around €200 million.
For 12B Sports followers, the situation is fascinating because Liverpool clearly need more attacking options, but spending €200 million simply because two players are available would be difficult to justify.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has indicated that Liverpool are working to advance negotiations for Barcola, but are not prepared to spend €200 million on Barcola and Mbaye together.
That could lead to a much more straightforward solution.
Liverpool could make Barcola their priority and treat Mbaye as a secondary option. Alternatively, the club could continue exploring other targets rather than allowing PSG to dictate the entire deal.
Barcola would certainly address an obvious weakness.
His pace, ability to attack defenders and experience at the highest level would give Liverpool another genuine threat from wide areas. More importantly, he could help reduce the pressure on Wirtz and Isak.
But even if Liverpool sign him, there is still a much bigger problem waiting in the middle.
Liverpool currently have a frightening lack of depth at centre-forward.
Isak is essentially the only established option.
That is a major concern for a team hoping to compete for the Premier League title, Champions League and domestic cups.
Liverpool spent approximately €145 million on Isak only a year ago, so selling him or replacing him immediately is obviously unrealistic. The club therefore have little choice but to rely on him.
The problem is that Isak did not look particularly convincing against his former club.
He played the entire match but failed to make a decisive impact.
Of course, one game means very little. Isak remains an elite striker with the ability to score consistently when fit and confident.
But Liverpool cannot afford to build their entire season around the assumption that he will stay healthy and suddenly rediscover his best Newcastle form.
If he suffers a significant injury, who replaces him?
That is the question the club urgently needs to answer.
This is where Liverpool’s transfer situation becomes particularly complicated.
Signing Barcola would undoubtedly improve the attack. Adding another winger would provide even more depth.
But neither player solves the centre-forward problem.
Liverpool could theoretically spend another €200 million on the wings and still enter the second half of the season with exactly one recognised top-level striker.
That would be a dangerous gamble.
The ideal scenario is obviously for Isak to stay fit and finally reproduce the form that made him one of Europe’s most feared forwards at Newcastle.
If that happens, Liverpool’s attacking ceiling changes completely.
As former Liverpool striker Michael Owen suggested, a fully firing Isak could make another title challenge perfectly realistic.
But relying on that outcome is not the same as planning for it.
It would be unfair to judge the new Liverpool regime after just one Premier League match.
Newcastle away is never an easy fixture, and Liverpool did show character by recovering from two setbacks and scoring an equaliser deep into stoppage time.
There were also positive signs in their possession and attacking structure.
But the draw should serve as an early warning.
Liverpool have already invested heavily in their squad, and another major attacking signing could still arrive before the transfer window closes. Barcola would be an exciting addition, while another winger could strengthen the squad further.
However, the most important decision may actually be what happens behind them.
Liverpool need to find a reliable alternative to Isak.
For 12B Sports readers watching the title race, that could ultimately be the difference between Liverpool challenging for another Premier League trophy and watching their rivals pull away.
Two new wingers might make Liverpool more dangerous.
But if Isak gets injured, even €200 million spent on the flanks may not be enough to fix the biggest hole in the squad.
