Liverpool should cut a “unplayable” star who was just as awful against Luton as Nunez.
It appears that the Reds must be aggressive in the winter transfer window to prevent similar mistakes from happening again.
Following a dismal 2022–2023 season, Liverpool supporters should be thrilled with how Jurgen Klopp has effectively restructured the team, positioning them at the top of the Premier League once more.
That doesn’t mean that the Anfield faithful cannot eagerly await the next phase in the rebuild; last year’s sapped midfield has been built anew on an industrial scale, but Fabinho’s summer sale to Al-Ittihad means that there is still ample room for a shiny new specialist No. 6.
Sunday’s draw against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road exposed this, with shades of last season’s malaise creeping in as the Reds languished to a 1-1 draw, with the striking performance of Darwin Nunez very much compounding the evening.
Luton vs. Darwin Nunez’s statistics
After making significant strides in his game during the summer, Liverpool witnessed a terrifying display of the former Nunez when they faced Luton.
Luis Diaz’s dramatic and emotional last-minute equalizer off the bench, considering the Colombian’s continuing family issue, may have saved Liverpool’s blushes, but the ground given up exposed flaws in this rejuvenated Reds team.
Nunez missed three big chances, hitting the target three times, missing it on four occasions and seeing two efforts blocked, as per Sofascore;
candidly, it was not a demonstration of the Uruguayan’s best qualities and progress this year, and had he been more clinical his side surely would have walked away with all the goods.
His profligacy is a concern, but given that he has been in such stellar showing over the past few months, Klopp will hope for now that it was a mere blip, having posted seven goals and four assists already this year.
Klopp will hold an unwavering belief in his centre-forward’s cutting edge, and while the 24-year-old was the notable underperformer against the Hatters, the continuing struggles of Alexis Mac Allister in midfield present a far more glaring cause for concern.
Numbers from Alexis Mac Allister’s season
Upon completing a £35 million summer transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion, it’s reasonable to argue that Mac Allister has yet to really settle in.
It’s also reasonable to argue that Klopp’s choice to use him in deep-lying midfield, which negated much of his best attributes and prevented him from consistently finding advantageous offensive positions, which allowed him to amass 12 goals and three assists for Brighton the previous season, is largely to blame for this.
He certainly hasn’t been objectively… bad, it’s just that the 24-year-old is still awaiting a consistent deployment in his favoured role, which earned him praise from journalist Roy Nemur for his “unplayable” displays at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he gleaned gold with Argentina.
As per Sofascore, Mac Allister has completed 88% of his passes in the Premier League this season, also making 6.5 ball recoveries and 2.5 tackles per game, but such metrics appear to be deceiving considering the discernible issues when watching him in action.
He made just one tackle, lost possession 15 times, won just three of his ten contested duels, and was dribbled past three times against Luton.
Certainly not the kind of impressive display that is required against a team with Luton’s level of tenacity.
There are other options. Although Wataru Endo is a hardworking midfielder who fits the description of a defensive midfielder, he hasn’t appeared to be the answer as he has only made one Premier League start since his £16 million summer transfer from Stuttgart, with Mac Allister regularly taking his place.
The winter transfer market could also be the apt time to pounce on Merseyside, with Fluminense star Andre still reportedly of interest after winning the Copa Libertadores last week.
Mac Allister will likely be made to ply his trade in the same role on multiple occasions over the next few months, but it is increasingly important that Liverpool rectify the situation and find a worthy solution, only enhancing the chance of clinching silverware by next summer.
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