With Fabinho leaving Anfield, Liverpool moved for defensive midfielders Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, but both players decided to move to Chelsea. Ultimately, they acquired Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo.
Still unfamiliar with Liverpool’s tactics and the Premier League, the Japanese captain has seen limited playing time in the domestic league.
Meanwhile, former Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who has been with the team since preseason, has been playing at the bottom of midfield.
The Argentine midfielder, who has the ball control and passing skills to hold up under intense pressing, has done well enough in the anchor role, but has been allowed to break through easily by players who are more physical and athletic than he is.
Last season, Moises Caicedo did that part for Brighton, but he must fulfill both roles at Liverpool, where there is only one bottom midfield.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville said that with players like Declan Rice and Lodrie in the same position, winning the Premier League would be a dream.
“They could, they’re more likely to than Spurs, no doubt about that,”
“I think Liverpool have got something about them. Today they were playing against a really good Brighton side. They’ve got an outstanding goalkeeper, Liverpool, that I always think will keep them in a lot of football matches. And they’ve got striker who can score goals, and lots of them. They’ve got a good forward line.”
“The midfield, it’s attacking. Has it got the defensive stability of what we’ve seen here today, when Rodri comes back in and when you see Rice and Partey and Jorginho. Have they got that defensive stability, Liverpool? If you put Declan Rice in Liverpool’s holding midfield position, or you put Rodri in there, I’d be saying Liverpool will definitely be on for the title.”
The Gary Neville Podcast