Why Liverpool are targeting the wrong Brighton midfielder
Cameron Smith
- Updated: 23 May 2023 08:46 CDT
- 4 min read
Liverpool's search for a new central midfielder has reportedly seen them land on Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo, with the player now one of their key targets.
The Ecuador international has garnered plenty of attention since arriving in the Premier League, bursting onto the scene with the Seagulls after Manchester United missed out on signing him back in 2021.
The 20-year-old has become hot property over the past few months, with Europe's elite clubs keeping a keen eye on his progression on the south coast.
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However, as is to be expected with a young player, Caicedo is still a raw talent, and is still susceptible to poor judgment in the middle of the park, both positionally and on the ball.
While he is destined to reach the top, he may not be ready for a big move just yet.
However, the same can't be said for his Brighton midfield partner Alexis Mac Allister, who would be a shrewd acquisition for Jurgen Klopp should the Reds pursue a deal for the Argentinian.
Why Mac Allister would be an excellent signing for Liverpool
Mac Allister, 23, joined Brighton as an attacking midfielder, but has transitioned into a deep-lying playmaker over the past six months, and it's brought the very best out of him.
He is able to dictate Brighton's play from deep, progressing the ball up the pitch along with help from the aforementioned Caicedo. With four Premier League goals already this season, Mac Allister is also able to provide tangible value in the final-third, something that can't be said for Liverpool's current midfield.
The Argentine international has also successfully completed the fifth-most pressures in the division, testament to his energy levels in the middle of the park, which is something that should catch Liverpool's eye given how Klopp's team of old used to play.
With Fabinho now an injury liability, Liverpool need a player who can cover both the No.6 role and the No.8 role; Mac Allister fits the bill perfectly given his past as a more advanced creative player and the fact he currently protects the backline from a deep role at The Amex Stadium.
Furthermore, Mac Allister is now operating in a double pivot, which would suit the 4-4-2 shape that Klopp has adopted in recent weeks, while he would also suit a move back to Liverpool's traditional 4-3-3 system.
A pupil of Graham Potter who is now learning under Roberto De Zerbi, Mac Allister is tactically versatile and has now played under two of the most astute young managers in European football. As a result, a transition to a bigger club may not be too far away, and at 23 years old, Liverpool could do far worse than pick him up next summer.
Given Caicedo has the hype of one of the world's best young midfielders, the Ecuadorian will likely cost around what Chelsea paid to sign Marc Cucurella this summer, if not slightly more. Therefore, with other areas of the squad in desperate need of attention, not least a secondary midfield signing, choosing Mac Allister instead will save Liverpool money and they won't be getting an inferior player.
And signing Mac Allister would be a throwback to the smart signings of Georginio Wijnaldum from Newcastle or Andrew Robertson from Hull City, the type of moves that Liverpool have avoided in recent years but provided them with so much success during the earlier years of Klopp's tenure.
