The impressive emergence of Stefan Bajcetic may have reduced Liverpool’s midfield shopping list this summer but they will still need two or three new recruits. The recent performances and injury issues of Jurgen Klopp’s current options make that abundantly clear.
The Reds have had barely any minutes from midfielders aged between 22 and 28 this season, with most of the players used there either in the autumn of their careers or barely starting out. Naby Keita fits the bill age-wise but his positive contributions have been few and far between too.
Liverpool’s pursuit of Jude Bellingham shows that age profile is not the most important factor in their recruitment criteria, and nor should it be. Acquiring more midfielders of peak age would be no bad thing nonetheless.
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One player often linked with the Reds who falls into this category is Brighton’s World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister. The rumours have been strengthened by reports that his father (who is also his agent) was at Liverpool’s recent match against Real Madrid.
Like teammate Moises Caicedo, the 24-year-old will be linked with plenty of big clubs ahead of the next transfer window. Either one would be a fine addition for the Reds, in truth, though Mac Allister has some interesting selling points.
He has mostly featured in central midfield, often as half of the two-man platform in front of the defence in Roberto De Zerbi’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation. But it’s interesting to note that in the Seagulls’ last two games, against Crystal Palace and Fulham, he was central in the attacking midfield trio.
Mac Allister amassed 11 shots with six on target and created four chances across those matches, showing he is capable of making contributions further forward. Per Opta, he has been Brighton’s most heavily involved player in open play shot-ending sequences in the De Zerbi era.
With Liverpool already having many players capable of playing in a number 10 role, Mac Allister would more likely feature further back if he joined. The thought of him forming a new-look midfield duo with Bellingham, another player accustomed to a 4-2-3-1 formation, is a tantalising one. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet though.
One potential concern with players who move from one of the league’s smaller clubs to Liverpool is whether they can prosper in a more possession-heavy side. There are no such concerns here, though, as Brighton are averaging 59.1 per cent of the ball this season, the most of any non ‘big six’ club in Klopp’s time in England. Under De Zerbi, their average has increased to 62.2 per cent too.
As well as being comfortable on the ball, Mac Allister can be effective without it. He is the Seagulls’ joint-top player for possession wins in the final third, averaging 0.8 per 90 minutes. Harvey Elliott (1.1) has a better rate but no other Liverpool midfielder is above 0.6 this season.
The Brighton man also rates well in challenges, a facet of play in which the Reds have often vexed Klopp this season. While Mac Allister is a little behind Thiago Alcantara for duel win percentage, he is comfortably ahead of the other midfielders in the Liverpool squad.
Perhaps the most interesting analysis of Mac Allister was a simple one-liner offered by Statsbomb last month. They were looking for the most similar under-25 player to Gini Wijnaldum, and while Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney was the top result, they noted that the Brighton midfielder was another close match. Liverpool have been crying out for someone of the Dutchman’s skillset this season, and they may have found a World Cup winner ready to fulfil his role in the side.
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