Liverpool must surely believe they can reclaim the Premier League title that they lost so decisively last season, but there’s no question that numerous improvements are needed to make that happen.
Where to begin? There are so many different potential flashpoints where trouble could arise over the coming months, though there is also plenty of potential within Andoni Iraola‘s side, not only this season, but across the next long chapter on Merseyside.
However, there are indeed more than a few creases to iron out. The imminent £120m signing of Bradley Barcola will not solve everything; a right-sided winger is still needed. Moreover, Liverpool still haven’t sorted out their problems in midfield, with the fall of Alexis Mac Allister a big problem for Iraola.
What to do with Alexis Mac Allister?
Time was when Mac Allister was regarded as one of the Premier League’s best midfielders. A superstar in the centre. Those days are over. Last year, Mac Allister slumped harder than most on Merseyside, not part of the problem, but poleaxed by his own athletic and technical regressions.
How could Arne Slot have anticipated that? Midway through the campaign, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher asserted that Curtis Jones needed to replace the Argentina international as a regular starter. Jones has recently been sold to Inter Milan in a £35m deal.
The start of the Iraola era has shown a few flashes of improvement from Mac Allister, who, 27 years old, should be in the prime of his career. However, it would be quite the gamble to persist with a player whose finest form is now a vestigial thing.
Mac Allister might have the completeness of style, fundamentally, to thrive at Liverpool, but if he fails to apply the correct methods, he will continue to routinely fall by the wayside.
Last season, one content creator even said Mac Allister “looks like Fabinho in his final season”, having “physically fallen off a cliff”.
The numbers back that up, and we’ll peer into that data pool in a moment. For now, let’s look at what can be done about this concerning situation. Well, in short, FSG need to sign an elite midfielder before the transfer window slams shut.
How Liverpool can upgrade on Mac Allister
Interest in Mac Allister has been constant throughout the summer, but it seems unlikely that he will be sold. In the penultimate year of his contract, this could be his final year, though.
Even so, Liverpool need something new, someone who can bring a semblance of the South American’s quality and plant it in more fertile soil, grow it into something that could actually prove a difference for a Liverpool side chasing titles.
According to one Foot Mercato journalist, Lamine Camara could be the man for the job. Chelsea have a vested interest in the Monaco midfielder, but Liverpool are also in the late running, having made recent enquiries without submitting an offer. That could be forthcoming, though, with the French side listing their talented midfielder at £65m.
Interest in the Senegal international has been rife, but he is said to be excited about the prospect of joining Liverpool at Anfield.
Camara has completed 74 appearances for Monaco since joining the club from Metz. The 22-year-old has posted six goals and 11 assists. He might not have tried his hand in the Premier League yet, but if he can continue to go from strength to strenght over the next few years, there’s no question that he could prove an upgrade on Mac Allister.
Honestly, in Ligue 1 last term, Camara trumped Mac Allister across most every metric, making a firm comment on his capacity to succeed in the Premier League.
In the view of Monaco head coach Filipe Luis, Camara is “one of the best midfielders in the world.”
|
League Form Comparison (2025/26) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (* per 90) |
Camara |
Mac Allister |
|
Matches (starts) |
24 (22) |
36 (30) |
|
Goals + Assists |
3 + 4 |
2 + 4 |
|
Touches* |
70.9 |
50.1 |
|
Accurate passes* |
43.5 (86%) |
33.6 (87%) |
|
Big chances created |
8 |
4 |
|
Key passes* |
1.5 |
0.9 |
|
Possession lost* |
14.1 |
7.8 |
|
Succ. dribbles* |
0.7 (53%) |
0.3 (40%) |
|
Ball recoveries* |
6.6 |
3.1 |
|
Def. contributions* |
4.6 |
2.9 |
|
Duels won* |
5.6 (53%) |
3.0 (45%) |
Still so young, there is so much room for growth, so many reasons for Liverpool to be excited, should they complete a deal. Camara is a complete midfielder with a good technical range, a knack for creative passing, a first-class engine and no shortage of combative defensive traits that Liverpool have been sorely missing over the past year.
It should go without saying that he is expected to continue improving over the next few years. At Liverpool, he could charge a resurgence toward the top of the continent. Can we say the same for Mac Allister? Can we say, with chest, that the Argentine is going to bounce back to that former level?
Is Liverpool’s interminable wait for a robust all-action midfielder a sign of negligience? To be sure, Gravenberch thrived as Slot’s side won the title, but he stood in after a big-money deal for Martin Zubimendi fell through. Liverpool, still, have not signed a specialist No. 6.
Camara could be the tonic this side needs. He has to be. Time is running out, and failure to redress midfield concerns could halt the Iraola era before it’s even got going.
