While it’s unfair to pin the entire Liverpool draw against Brighton on Mac Allister, there’s no denying that the Argentine was exposed playing against his old team. A formidable Brighton team that outmatched Liverpool’s midfield and neutralized the 24-year-old’s influence in the match demonstrated Mac Allister’s inadequacy as a holding midfielder. With the remainder of the season approaching, it was a game that ought to have made Klopp pause and reconsider.
In addition, Mac Allister’s Argentina performances ought to have demonstrated to prospective employers Liverpool’s ability to maximize his potential and why the holding midfield position is not a good fit for him. In the match against Paraguay, Mac Allister took on a more advanced role for Argentina and looked great, finishing the most dribbles and being a vital component of his team’s offensive attacks. Mac Allister’s performance suffered against Peru, as he assumed a more defensive position.
According to FBref, Endō has averaged more tackles won for Liverpool than any other midfielder this season (1 point47 per 90 minutes) across all competitions. In terms of interceptions per ninety minutes across all competitions (1 point47), he is also ranked in the top five Liverpool players. Endō, meantime, merits a chance to establish himself as a starting lineup member for Liverpool in the Premier League.
To start him in the derby against Everton would be a risky move on Klopp’s part, but in the end it will be the right one. Compared to Mac Allister, Endō is far more capable of managing the defensive end of the game, and he can allow the Argentine to shine in his more comfortable position.
