Iraola Must Bench His Highest Paid Midfielders

The stadium lights hum over the green, casting long shadows across the pitch where the air feels heavy with expectation. In the center circle, the geometry of the game shifts as Andoni Iraola faces a decision that cuts against the grain of modern football logic. It is a moment of stark contrast between the ledger and the law of the game. The numbers say one thing, the performance says another, and the manager must choose which voice to follow.

Liverpool’s recent victory over Tottenham Hotspur revealed a truth that was hiding in plain sight. Despite rotating the squad heavily for the Carabao Cup, the Reds found a way to win. It was not a perfect display, nor was it meant to be. The chaos of substitution creates friction, but the result remained. The midfield, however, stood out as the anchor in the storm, a pair of players who held the line when others wavered.

A Pairing That Defies Expectations

Trey Nyoni and Alexis Mac Allister started together, and the effect was immediate. Their styles meshed with a natural ease that felt almost effortless. Nyoni settled into a deep position, keeping the ball safe, ticking it over with caution and control. He was the foundation, the solid ground beneath the feet of his partner. Mac Allister, meanwhile, looked to venture forward, offering support both on and off the ball. This was not a collision of egos, but a synchronized dance.

When Mac Allister is in this form, the duo does more than just maintain possession. They contribute to goals, creating a fluidity that Liverpool have struggled to find in recent weeks. At a time when the team is searching for control, this pairing offers a rare sense of stability. It is the most solid combination available, a shield and a sword working in unison to dictate the rhythm of the match.

The Weight of New Contracts

Yet, this effectiveness creates a difficult reality for the club's administration. Liverpool rewarded two midfielders with massive new contracts this year, but neither of them were Nyoni or Mac Allister. The money flowed to Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, signaling that they were meant to be at the forefront of the team's midfield engine. The intent was clear, the ambition high, but the execution has not matched the investment.

Reports from De Telegraaf indicate that Gravenberch’s new deal puts him on a salary of around €300k per week. Szoboszlai is believed to be on a similar wage after signing his deal in the summer. That is a combined €600k per week that the club is currently paying for a pairing that simply does not work. The chemistry is missing, the solidity is absent, and the impact is negligible. It is a financial burden that does not translate into on-field success.

A Brave Move for Stability

In all honesty, Liverpool should be leaving these two high earners on the bench. It is a decision that goes against the natural order of football, where the highest-paid players usually command the starting spot. But the current setup does not call for them. They are not the pairing that offers what the team needs right now. They are talented individuals, capable of brilliance in a different context, but in this specific formation, they are the weak link.

Iraola has to do something brave, perhaps even crazy, by sidelining his most expensive assets. The team needs solidity, and neither Gravenberch nor Szoboszlai provides it in this system. It is a temporary measure, a strategic pause that prioritizes the collective over the individual. As reported by Yahoo Sports, the logic is clear: the game is not won by the players on the roster, but by the players on the pitch. And right now, the pitch demands a different kind of hero.