In the early knockings of the 2025/26 campaign, the crux of Liverpool‘s problems were found in defence. Ibrahima Konate was riddled with errors, Virgil van Dijk was struggling to marshal his backline, and Arne Slot‘s system was in disarray.
As the season has deepened, though, it’s become clear that the forwards must share an equal portion of the blame. Mohamed Salah is calling time on his illustrious Anfield career, after all, and Hugo Ekitike has been profligate in front of goal, albeit largely impressive in the final third.
But midfield might actually be the root cause of Liverpool’s decline. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister have both plummeted from last year’s standards, and it’s clear that FSG need to make a change this summer.
Liverpool ready to strengthen midfield
Gravenberch signed a new long-term contract at Liverpool this month, but Mac Allister is approaching the final year of his Anfield deal, and whether extending the 27-year-old’s terms would be a prudent move has been brought into question after his terrible performances this season.
The Argentina international has emerged as one of the Premier League’s best midfielders after joining Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, but he’s been a shadow of that robust player this year, at the epicentre of Liverpool’s decline.
|
Alexis Mac Allister in the Prem for Slot |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (* per game) |
24/25 |
25/26 |
|
Matches (starts) |
35 (30) |
30 (26) |
|
Goals |
5 |
2 |
|
Assists |
5 |
2 |
|
Touches* |
55.8 |
50.9 |
|
Accurate passes* |
35.5 (87%) |
33.6 (86%) |
|
Key passes* |
1.3 |
0.8 |
|
Dribbles* |
0.5 |
0.3 |
|
Ball recoveries* |
4.2 |
2.9 |
|
Tackles + interceptions* |
3.3 |
2.0 |
|
Clearances* |
0.8 |
1.0 |
|
Duels (won)* |
4.9 (48%) |
3.1 (45%) |
With rumours emerging in recent months that Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are interested, it might be worth cashing in on Mac Allister, who has played his part but maybe lost something essential to thrive in the Liverpool centre.
According to reports in Italy, FSG have already put a plan into motion, earmarking Juventus’s Khephren Thuram, a midfielder who caught Jurgen Klopp’s eye ahead of his midfield rebuild in 2023.
The Serie A giants don’t want to sell, but may not be able to withstand the financial might of the Premier League. Therefore, the France international has been transfer-listed at €60m (equating to £52m).
Manchester United and Newcastle United are also interested.
Why Liverpool are back in for Thuram
Liverpool’s analytical team have already completed extensive profiling on Thuram, who, aged 25, has become a mainstay in Juventus’s midfield, averaging two tackles per Serie A game this season, completing 61% of his dribbles and covering a lot of ground in the middle of the park.
Liverpool reporter Sam McGuire said that Thuram could have become a “monster” under Klopp’s wing, and now, a more polished player, he might just get a shot under Slot’s wing, reenergising the Dutchman’s midfield.
His intelligence on the ball offers shades of Gini Wijnaldum, who used to organise and direct at the heart of Liverpool’s midfield. His partnership with Jordan Henderson and Fabinho was one for the ages, and he won so many trophies in Red.
Thuram is not the most accurate passer, but then he shares with Liverpool’s former Netherlands midfielder an intelligence on the ball; moreover, he’s fiercely progressive, both as a carrier and when passing forward.
Gini was crisp and clever on the ball but lacked the kind of penetrative range of distribution as someone like Mac Allister.
But Liverpool need someone who can guide the flow of play while defending well and bringing a fiery and robust energy to the squad, and in Thuram, they might sign a sort of hybrid, someone who can project Mac Allister’s presence while playing with more assurance and dynamism than we’ve seen this season.
Thuram could be that player, for sure, especially when playing with the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, who has grown into one of the world’s best players this season, a talisman guiding his flagging teammates forward.
After all, he’s coveted by a number of Premier League outfits, and his rangy midfield style has even led analyst Ben Mattinson to claim that his “ability on the ball is Pogba-esque“.
Pundit Alan Shearer once said that Wijnaldum “ran Liverpool’s midfield“, and now, Thuram could do the same for the resurgent Anfield outfit next season.
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