It was roughly 12 months ago when
Liverpool were starting to grow resigned to the fact that they would be unable to lure Jude Bellingham to . The
England international had long been their first-choice target, but staring down at the prospect of failing to qualify for the while in need of an entire midfield overhaul, club bosses accepted that one marquee arrival was not what the Reds needed. But while the 20-year-old has gone on to enjoy an astonishing maiden season with
Real Madrid, recording 20 goals and nine assists from just 31 appearances to date, s change of tack has always worked out. had already emerged as a key target prior to winning the
World Cup with
Argentina in December 2022. And when club officials learned of a £35m release clause in the contract he had signed the previous October, the Brighton midfielder became a must-have as he kickstarted what would prove to be an £150m engine-room revamp. But could history be about to repeat itself at Liverpool one year on as the Reds eye up successors for Klopp, with the German confirmed to be stepping down as manager at the end of the season? They could turn to the South Coast again, with Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi now one of the leading candidates after previous favourite, Xabi Alonso, confirmed he would be staying put at Bayer Leverkusen. The Italian will get the chance to audition at Anfield on Sunday as Liverpool host Brighton on their return after the March international break. And with De Zerbi unbeaten against Klopp from their four previous meetings, the Reds will need such a record to change as they look to regain top spot in the table this weekend. “We know how difficult it is against Brighton,” Klopp said when previewing the game. “Roberto is doing an incredible
Job there. “We improved over the 18-20 months since he arrived (in England). The first game was surprising, we were their first opponent when he joined the club. We had no clue what to expect. “It was impressive how quick he got the team in his way. Since then it has only gotten better. A really impressive, different way of playing
Football. “It’s about having possession, they want it and we want it, but we need to have more. That’s the best way to defend against them. When they have the ball, you have to be ready to suffer. It will be super interesting, I’m really looking forward to it. “The way they play. It’s a really different way. I couldn’t coach that. It goes against my personality! But it’s a good watch, very demanding for the players - clear positioning. Hold your position, keep your position, pass at the right moment. “He’s a top coach doing really well, super interesting to see. That makes it tricky. It’s just a different way. Possession-based but even more structured from a positional point of view than maybe
Manchester City or whatever where they have a bit more freedom. “Brighton, on their day, can beat any team. But good news: we can do that as well.” Of course, if Brighton do dent Liverpool’s title hopes on Sunday, it will only enhance De Zerbi’s credentials. And while Alonso was the clear first-choice target of the supporters at least, given his Reds playing past, if the club’s plan B emerged from Brighton again, they could do a lot worse than looking to replicate Mac Allister’s success. The Argentine has quietly been one of Liverpool’s players of the season so far, impressing more and more with each passing week since returning from a leg injury over the festive period. While the Reds recovered from withdrawing from the race to sign Bellingham last summer, they headed into the new season without a holding midfielder after the unexpected exits of and Fabinho to
Saudi Arabia, and having also missed out on signing Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, and Andre Trindade. Consequently, Mac Allister was tasked with starting the season in the unfamiliar number six role with mixed results. A red card, later rescinded, against AFC Bournemouth on his Anfield debut was far from an ideal start. Of course, such question marks only grew when he made his first return to the Amex Stadium at the start of October. It was the Argentine who was caught out in possession midway inside his own half by Simon Adingra, who raced on to give Brighton the lead in a 2-2 draw as Liverpool dropped points heading into the international break. Yet seven weeks later and those doubts were emphatically silenced by an impressive showing in the Reds’ 1-1 draw against Man City at the Etihad. Mac Allister hasn’t looked back since - even if he was temporarily stalled by a leg injury suffered away at Sheffield United. In his absence, Wataru Endo would shine in the holding role, before departing for Asian Cup duty just as Mac Allister returned to fitness. But when the Japanese returned at home to Burnley on February 10, it freed up the Argentine to finally play in his favoured more advanced role. His record since such a switch has been incredible. Starting eight of Liverpool’s last nine matches, he has scored four goals, recorded four assists, and won the . Meanwhile, he would add to his scoring run when heading home for Argentina after starting against Costa Rica in midweek, taking his total to nine goal contributions from his last nine starts. Now facing his former club again, Mac Allister will be looking to get the better of both his old team-mates and manager to enhance Liverpool’s title-charge ahead of Man City hosting
Arsenal. Having proven himself to be a Reds bargain at £35m as a Brighton plan B served them well last summer, he is the man best-placed in the Anfield dressing room to assess De Zerbi. And while time will tell if he will be reunited with his former manager, Mac Allister has ensured he will be a key player for years to come regardless as Liverpool continue to ponder their future in a post-Klopp world.