When Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville revised their start-of-season Premier League predictions on Sky Sports activities, the Manchester United icon doubled down on his title-winning backing of Arsenal.
That is definitely daring, with the Anfield facet 9 factors away from the third-place Gunners as we roll into the brand new yr, however it does current a cautionary story for these of a Reds persuasion. The league is much from accomplished, and there are certain to be some twists and turns.
Underneath Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool had been a day late and a greenback quick in quite a few battles with Manchester City and Real Madrid for the most important prizes, however Arne Slot has introduced new-found management and consistency. There may be an air of dedication about this Reds squad, so spectacular throughout the park.
Flawless on the summit of the Champions League group section too, Liverpool are flying, and that is all of the extra praiseworthy when contemplating the off-field distractions that will have foiled many a high-level staff.
Contracts. A fear-inducing phrase on Merseyside. We have entered testing territory.
The place Liverpool stand vis-a-vis contracts
2025 is upon us, and Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are free to barter with whoever they please abroad concerning a pre-contract settlement.
As per numerous sources, Van Dijk and Salah are in promising positions concerning renewals. Tacitly, Liverpool count on them to increase regardless of the protracted nature of the discussions.
It is a totally different case for Alexander-Arnold, nevertheless, with the boyhood Liverpool fan enticed by the attract of Actual Madrid, who want a right-back and are ramping up the gasoline to usher in their primary goal for 2025.
The following few weeks will probably be pivotal, however there is a resigned undercurrent about Anfield’s fanbase. When Los Blancos come a-calling, it is onerous to show them down – and Trent is patently drawn to the proposition.
Nonetheless, this is not the one battle FSG should be involved about, with Actual believed to have registered an curiosity in one other Liverpool centrepiece.
Transfer Focus
Mega cash offers, controversial strikes and big-name flops. That is the house of switch information and opinion throughout Soccer FanCast.
Actual Madrid eyeing one other Liverpool star
As per Spanish reports, Actual Madrid want to heap additional switch distress on Liverpool by targetting Alexis Mac Allister, who signed for the Anfield side from Brighton for an eye-catching £35m in 2023.
The Spaniards’ intrigue is real, however Liverpool have responded emphatically by putting a €100m (£83m) price ticket on the Argentina star.
Mac Allister, 26, is contracted to the membership till 2028 however has just lately expressed a desire to play in La Liga sooner or later.
Why dropping Alexis Mac Allister can be unhealthy information
Regardless of dispatching Actual Madrid within the Champions League in November, Liverpool would possibly really feel like one thing of a punching bag, having misplaced two Champions League finals in opposition to them, additionally lacking out on a number of high-profile targets and now contending with the prospect of dropping Alexander-Arnold on a free.
Ought to Mac Allister go away too: detrimental penalties for Slot’s mission. The dynamic midfielder is not at all times the headline-stealer however he acts because the solvent within the centre, crunching within the deal with, ingenious on the ball and influential in his management and decision-making.
Nonetheless, metrics nonetheless serve to underscore his worth. As per FBref, Mac Allister ranks among the many prime 5% of midfielders throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues over the previous yr for shot-creating actions and tackles in addition to the highest 15% for progressive passes per 90.
When his Premier League performances over the previous two seasons, you possibly can actually see how he has tailored to Liverpool’s transition beneath Slot, much less of a roaming presence and extra structured within the Dutch coach’s strategic system.
|
Alexis Mac Allister – PL Stats for Liverpool |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (per 90) |
||
|
Objectives |
0.17 |
0.07 |
|
Assists |
0.17 |
0.15 |
|
Move completion |
86.5% |
86% |
|
Passes tried |
68.11 |
53.40 |
|
Progressive passes |
7.24 |
6.43 |
|
Progressive carries |
1.52 |
1.31 |
|
Touches (att pen) |
1.11 |
2.05 |
|
Prog. passes obtained |
1.66 |
2.56 |
|
Ball recoveries |
6.75 |
5.92 |
|
Tackles + interceptions |
4.64 |
4.53 |
|
Blocks |
2.25 |
2.48 |
|
Stats by way of FBref |
||
He is additional ahead than earlier than, mainly as a result of Ryan Gravenberch has been excellent in his deep-sitting midfield position, instilling management by means of his elegant and silky technical high quality.
Mac Allister nonetheless brings punch to Liverpool’s soccer however is doing so in a manner that runs together with one other thriving midfielder. It’s little particulars like this that differentiates Slot from his managerial friends and has propelled Liverpool into the ascendency.
The equipoise is completely intact and FSG can’t permit Actual Madrid to disrupt it. Paying homage to that first level, the Reds can’t get forward of themselves; as key figures hold reiterating, they have to keep humble and targeted on the following fixture.
However Slot has one thing particular at Liverpool and have to be handed the instruments to craft lasting success. Liverpool have a platform from which prosperity might be captured and sustained over this new period, however Mac Allister is the linchpin within the center, enabling a lot of the success of these round him.
Dropping Alexander-Arnold or Salah can be a nightmare, however, in Trent’s case, one which Richard Hughes has had ample time to arrange for and draw up plans if the dreaded eventuality materialises in stable kind.
Think about if such an issue have been to be exacerbated by Mac Allister’s flight too. Liverpool would not have the ability to get better from such a succession of setbacks, like dominoes toppling sequentially, and all of the unbelievable work that has been accomplished since a German man left Liverpool in 2024 can be derailed.
In fact, Liverpool’s endurance, their powers of restoration, have been a factor to behold over the previous decade, and even when these ghastly prospects all got here true in unfavourable kind, Anfield would not collapse like that of sure neighbours (no names).
However Mac Allister’s persevering with presence in Liverpool’s midfield may very well be the distinction between top-four pushes and title-chasing exhilaration. As pundit Joe Cole said, Mac Allister is a “celebrity” who “can play wherever” in midfield.
There is a taint at Liverpool, it is blotted on the material of the Reds’ thrilling season. How a lot of an impact that it’s going to have over the approaching months could be very a lot open to query, however one other stain within the type of Mac Allister’s potential sale, rising in quantity like Anfield’s away part when opponents take shock leads, may very well be a serious downside certainly.
Let’s simply hope that as Liverpool routinely claw again to victory on the sphere, Hughes and Co can finish this regarding quandary within the boardroom and silence the gleeful Madrid followers who odor victory on this switch battle.
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Liverpool battling Madrid to sign £52m star who could usurp Gravenberch
Liverpool may very well be in for a troublesome battle to land this star.
