The BIG problem with Liverpool's midfield recruitment

Cameron Smith

8 Oct 2023 10:15 CDT
4 min read

Liverpool signed four central midfielders this summer as Jurgen Klopp oversaw an overhaul in that area on the pitch.

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Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all departed Anfield, while Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo arrived.

That quartet cost Liverpool a combined €172 million and they were the only four new arrivals to join the club during the most recent transfer window.

So far this season, that recruitment has appeared to have been a success; Liverpool are one of the form teams in the Premier League and look as though they could be set to fight for the title with Manchester City, Arsenal and perhaps Tottenham.

However, their impressive start to the new season has hit a stumbling block in recent weeks, with the unfortunate 2-1 loss against Spurs (following Luis Diaz’s wrongfully disallowed goal) and the 2-2 draw versus Brighton.

That draw away to Roberto De Zerbi’s side saw Mac Allister return to his former side and he endured a mixed afternoon back at the AMEX.

His raw defensive numbers looked good (five interceptions and three tackles), but he was slow to react to a Virgil van Dijk pass in the first-half - which led to Simon Adingra's opener - and he committed two fouls and was dribbled past once as he was often left exposed in the middle of the park.

© ProShots - Alexis Mac Allister, Liverpool

It’s clear that Mac Allister is playing in an unfamiliar role and that is at least partially the reason for his struggles this season.

The Argentine shone at the World Cup with less defensive pressure on his shoulders, while his final campaign at Brighton saw him deployed mostly as an advanced number eight or an attacking midfielder, with Moises Caicedo and Pascal Gross behind him.

Now, as the midfielder with the most defensive responsibility at Liverpool, he has not been his usual self.

The Reds have conceded nine goals in eight goals so far this campaign (the joint-sixth best in the Premier League), but they have only kept one clean sheet in the English top flight in 2023-24.

They have been far from poor defensively, but the lack of a natural defensive midfielder is a slight concern.

Of course, Endo actually fits that description perfectly, but the Japan international has only started one league game this campaign and has played just 22 Premier League minutes in Liverpool’s past five games.

© ProShots - Alexis Mac Allister won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina

Klopp doesn’t appear to favour the 30-year-old in the Premier League, meaning Mac Allister is being forced to play an unfamiliar role that exposes his weakness at defending large spaces and limits his creative spark.

Are Liverpool too focused on signing No.8s?

Of course, Liverpool have signed Szoboszlai and Gravenberch for the advanced number eight roles, while Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott are also best in those positions.

As a result, Mac Allister is being shoehorned into the team in a position that doesn’t seem to suit him best.

Liverpool tried their utmost to sign Moises Caicedo this summer, but their failure to land the Ecuadorian should’ve led to the pursuit of another defensive midfielder. Instead, they signed Gravenberch and Mac Allister’s qualities are being hidden due to his new position at Anfield.

Even long-term target Khephren Thuram is best in a number eight position and it’s clear that Liverpool need a Fabinho replacement rather than another midfielder who prefers to play in a more advanced area.

Manchester City have Rodri, Arsenal have Declan Rice, Chelsea have Caicedo, Tottenham have Yves Bissouma, while Liverpool don’t have that kind of profile in their squad. It may not cost them this year, but it just might prove the difference between a title fight and a top four finish.