Liverpool Need New Blood After Richard Hughes, FSG Cannot Repeat the Same Mistake

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about Richard Hughes and how his spell at Liverpool should eventually be judged. There were good signings. There were expensive signings. There were also glaring pieces of business that never happened.

For me, that last category remains the biggest problem.

You can point towards Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez and argue that Hughes’ legacy might look considerably better in two years. I understand that argument. If Isak scores goals, Wirtz becomes the player we believe he can be and Andoni Iraola succeeds, Hughes will deserve some credit for decisions made during his tenure.

My frustration has always been about what Liverpool didn’t do.

That is why the appointment of his successor matters enormously.

Liverpool Need Fresh Thinking After Richard Hughes

Reports suggest Mike Gordon is overseeing the process of finding Liverpool’s next sporting director, with internal and external candidates under consideration.

Julian Ward and David Woodfine have been mentioned among the internal possibilities. I’ll be upfront, I don’t want Liverpool going down that road.

I want fresh blood.

That isn’t a personal criticism of either man. My concern is the cycle Liverpool have found themselves in. We seem to be changing sporting directors every couple of years, moving people around internally, bringing familiar faces back and then wondering why the structure never feels properly settled.

Liverpool need somebody who views this position as a destination.

That is one of the things that has always puzzled me about Hughes. The suggestion that Liverpool never felt like the pinnacle of his profession is difficult for me to understand. He worked his way up, did a good job at Bournemouth, got one of the biggest sporting director jobs in world football and ultimately left for Saudi Arabia.

Everybody has different motivations in life and football, but Liverpool should be looking for somebody desperate to build something at Anfield for years.

If the club insist on looking internally, Pedro Marques would interest me more. Ideally, however, I want Liverpool to cast the net wider.

The next appointment cannot feel like another sticking plaster.

Iraola Deserves A Structure Built For Success

There is another reason why this matters so much.

I really like Iraola.

I like his personality, his ideas and the direction he appears to be taking Liverpool. Given the proper backing, I genuinely believe he could be here for five or six years and achieve something special.

That requires a squad capable of playing his football.

Milos Kerkez’s comments about Liverpool currently struggling to maintain Iraola’s desired pressing intensity for 90 minutes caught my attention. I hope the important word there is currently.

This is still a team adapting to a new coach and a different physical demand. My concern is whether the squad is deep enough to sustain it once the schedule becomes relentless.

We have Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, Fulham in the Premier League, Tottenham in the League Cup and Bournemouth away shortly afterwards.

I don’t want to hear that Liverpool need to sacrifice competitions because the squad isn’t deep enough.

We have had that conversation too many times.

Liverpool cannot continually write off potential trophies because the owners failed to provide the manager with sufficient options. The League Cup might not bring enormous financial rewards, but a trophy is a trophy and Wembley is Wembley.

I want Iraola trying to win it.

Araujo Gets My Vote Against Atletico Madrid

Attention now turns towards Atletico Madrid and there are some fascinating selection decisions.

Right-back is the obvious one.

My preference is Ronald Araujo.

Dominik Szoboszlai would be my second choice, with Jeremie Frimpong third. In our poll last night, 80% agreed that Araujo should get the nod against Atletico.

I still believe Conor Bradley has the attributes required to become Liverpool’s first-choice right-back when fit. His availability remains the concern. Nobody can confidently say he will return and suddenly become bulletproof for an entire season.

For Atletico, however, Araujo makes sense.

He knows this opposition from his Barcelona career, he provides defensive security and this is a significant step up from Ipswich Town.

Then comes Bradley Barcola.

The sensible side of me understands why Iraola might leave him on the bench and introduce him for the final 30 minutes. He had limited pre-season preparation and Liverpool have to manage him properly.

The supporter in me wants his name on that teamsheet.

Anfield, under the lights, Champions League football, Atletico Madrid. Imagine Barcola scoring and properly announcing himself.

If he starts, I want him on the left.

I’ve enjoyed Cody Gakpo operating from the right and dropping into deeper areas. So my preferred attacking trio would be Barcola on the left, Alexander Isak through the middle and Gakpo on the right.

Liverpool Cannot Waste This Opportunity

There is plenty to feel positive about on the pitch.

Isak and Gakpo have started brightly. Wirtz is showing improvements despite some ridiculous criticism. Iraola is beginning to put his stamp on the team.

Behind all of that, Liverpool have another enormous decision to make.

I don’t want another short-term sporting director. I don’t want another reshuffle that merely moves familiar names into different offices.

Find somebody ambitious. Find somebody innovative. Find somebody who looks at Liverpool Football Club and thinks there is nowhere else they would rather be.

Hughes’ signings may ultimately change perceptions of his time at Liverpool. I accept that.

His successor now has an opportunity to address everything that was left unfinished.

FSG need to get this one right.