Liverpool
Liverpool set to sign£50k p/w player that is‘a Gini Wijnaldum plus’
Liverpool set to sign£50k p/w player that is‘a Gini Wijnaldum plus’
With just the one Premier League assignment left in the 2022/23 season against already relegated Southampton, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool can already start to think about the new campaign and all that it will entail.
The Europa League probably isn’t where the Reds wanted to be, however, the standard of their performances over the current season just haven’t been good enough.
It’s clear that they need to be strengthened in certain areas, and with the summer transfer window opening in just over a fortnight, Klopp and his recruitment department need to get cracking to get deals over the line.
With a number of players – James Milner, Arthur Melo, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – moving on to pastures new, midfield would appear to be the one part of the pitch where Liverpool need to direct most of their attention.
As it stands, a move for Brighton and Hove Albion’s Alexis Mac Allister appears to be almost done according to Football Insider sources.
Alexis Mac Allister could leave Brighton for Liverpool
The £50,000 per week (via Spotrac) star is even better than Gini Wijnaldum according to Redmen TV presenter Paul Machin.
“The weird thing about Gini Wijnaldum is I think the role has changed. It was a very functional role for Liverpool that Wijnaldum played and not many footballers have got that kind of capability,“ he said to Give Me Sport.
“I actually see Mac Allister as being a Gini Wijnaldum plus. He might have the ability to do those functions, but you’re going to get more assists and you’re going to get more goals out of him further up the pitch.
“I see him more in rotation with Curtis Jones potentially, and it’s going to be their job to actually do more of the fun stuff on the pitch, whereas Gini Wijnaldum was very much doing the dirty work.”
Mac Allister certainly seems to possess all of the qualities that would make him a perfect fit in the heart of Liverpool’s midfield.
Alongside Jordan Henderson, he’ll drive the team forward and should also provide a formidable barrier in front of the defence when required.
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Klopp makes five changes, as £35m man handed rare start: Liverpool’s final day predicted XI vs Southampton
The 2022/23 Premier League season comes to a close tomorrow, with Liverpool taking on Southampton on the South Coast.
With the Reds rooted to fifth position and Saints confirmed as finishing bottom of the table, there’s absolutely nothing riding on the game.
As a result, we may see a much-rotated Liverpool side, with one or two afforded a final chance to make their mark at the club. So, for one last time in this strange old campaign, here’s the XI we expect Jurgen Klopp to put out tomorrow.
Defence
For only the second time in his Liverpool career, Alisson Becker should end the season having played in every Premier League game. There’s perhaps a slight chance that Klopp goes with Caoimhin Kelleher for a potential goodbye appearance, but we think Ali will get the nod.
At right-back, we expect to see Trent Alexander-Arnold continue in his hybrid midfield role. The more practice he gets the better ahead of next season.
Beside Trent, we think Joel Matip will come in after Klopp confirmed Ibrahima Konate missed part of the week’s training with illness. Virgil van Dijk is likely to continue next to Matip, with Kostas Tsimikas set to step in for the injured Andy Robertson.
Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesMidfield
Liverpool’s midfield has been tough to predict all season long. And that remains the case right up until the last. Come the first day of next season, this area of the team may look very different.
For now though, we think Klopp will keep things relatively similar, with Fabinho and Curtis Jones continuing from last week.
In the third slot, we think there may be a change, though. Owing to the dead-rubber nature of the game, we think Jurgen will give Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain one last chance in a Liverpool shirt. With tomorrow his last ever chance to be in a Reds squad, it would be nice to see the £35m man get a proper opportunity to make a contribution. We’ve got a feeling we may see Arthur from the bench at some stage, too.
Attack
Against Villa last time out, Liverpool’s attack looked a little cumbersome, with Luis Diaz still not quite up to speed following his injury.
Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Darwin Nunez is back in training, and Klopp has the option to throw the Uruguayan back in. But we think he’ll go with Diogo Jota on the left, as he looks to end a difficult campaign on a high.
Alongside Jota, Mohamed Salah is certain to start, despite some rotation throughout the team. Meanwhile, we expect to see Roberto Firmino afforded a final ever start before his summer exit.
What a tricky, tricky season it’s been. With everything already confirmed and boxed off in terms of league position, let’s still make sure we end things on a high.
Liverpool’s predicted XI vs Southampton: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones; Salah, Firmino, Jota
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