Liverpool sit fifth in the Premier League and are in contention to secure Champions League football for the 2026/27 season after winning the division last season.
Despite adding the likes of Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez, Arne Slott’s side were not at their best, with several players leaving as part of the team’s overall decline.
Alexis Mac Allister, for example, endured a difficult season in the middle of the Reds’ park. In 30 appearances in the Premier League, the midfield star lost 54% of his ground duels and 56% of his aerial duels, indicating that he was too weak in physical combat.
The former Brighton & Hove Albion sensation also provided just two goals and two assists for the team in the top flight during his time at Liverpool.
However, last season, the central midfielder contributed to the league title with five goals and five assists, but this year he has not been as effective in terms of possession.
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Mac Allister’s struggles in and out of possession in the center of the park have been disappointing and could cost him a place in the starting eleven for next season.
The Argentina international has been a regular in the slot, starting 27 games this season, usually playing alongside Ryan Gravenbirch, but that could change in the summer.
According to Marc Bulls’ Daily Briefing, Liverpool are one of the teams preparing to sign AS Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The reporter claims that both Liverpool and Chelsea are eyeing moves to sign the Senegalese international from the Ligue 1 outfit to strengthen their options in the middle of the park.
But Bours added that he would only accept a deal if Monaco made a bid of up to £65m for his services. This means the Reds will have to spend a lot of money in order for the French side to accept their offer.
Kamara is said to be an attractive target for Liverpool as Slott wants an energetic midfielder in his squad, but it remains to be seen whether they will make a £65m bid for his signature.
Why Kamara is an upgrade over Mac Allister for Liverpool
Mac Allister is not the best fit for Liverpool’s midfield if the manager wants a mobile and energetic midfielder. The Argentine star is more of a possession-based tempo-setting player than an all-action midfield player.
The 27-year-old star has only averaged 1.4 tackles won and 3.1 duels won per game in the Premier League so far this season, which speaks to his lack of mobility and ability to move across the pitch to win duels and win the ball back for his team.
Last month, Jamie Carragher voiced his concerns about the Argentine midfielder, saying: “The longer the game goes on, the more Mac Allister struggles. I think that’s a real problem for Liverpool that they need to address in midfield.”
However, the Camara does not have the same issues with durability or maneuverability. He averaged 77 minutes per game at league level, more than Mac Allister’s 74 minutes per game, and gave his team more time in possession.
In Ligue 1 this season, the Senegalese star has won 5.2 ground duels per game, with a success rate of 63%, showing that he is a dominant midfielder who is always on the pitch and breaking up plays.
25/26 league season | Mac Allister | Kamala |
|---|---|---|
Appearance | 30 | 18 |
A big opportunity has arisen | 2 | 7 |
assist | 2 | 4 |
Number of tackles gained per game | 1.4 | 2.3 |
Number of dribble breakthroughs per game | 1.1x | 0.6x |
Duels won per match | 3.1 | 6.0 |
Ground duel success rate | 46% | 63% |
Aerial duel success rate | 42% | 45% |
The £65m Monaco star has won almost twice as many duels per game, but is still dribbled past less often, suggesting he is far more mobile and physically robust than Mac Allister.
Kamara has been described as a “defensive monster” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, and these stats support that claim, as he is a duel-winning and tackling machine in the middle of the Ligue 1 park.
Unfortunately, Mac Allister hasn’t shown enough energy or defensive quality in possession, and his attacking play hasn’t compensated for his struggles off the ball.
Kamara, on the other hand, looks like a perfect fit for what Slott is looking for in a midfield, given his mobility, strength and all-action nature of his performance in Monaco.
That’s why Liverpool should pay Monaco the £65m required to sign the 22-year-old central midfielder, who could arrive at Anfield as a huge upgrade to Mac Allister.
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