Alexis Mac Allister has just hinted at Jurgen Klopp original plan for Liverpool before summer exits
If not for the Saudi Pro League, Jurgen Klopp’s ‘Liverpool 2.0’ would quite possibly have looked rather different this season.
Having waved off Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the end of their contracts back in the summer, the Reds had already initiated the start of a long-awaited midfield revamp come the start of pre-season. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai would arrive from Brighton & Hove Albion and RB Leipzig for a combined total of £95m, before the club took a step back to ponder their next move in the transfer market.
A third new midfielder was always on the radar, but Klopp had already confirmed he was also looking to sign a new centre-back. It would emerge that a young, left-sided option was the preferred target of choice.
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But then unexpected Saudi interest in Jordan Henderson and Fabinho reared its head, with the pair departing for Al-Ettifaq and Al-Ittihad in £12m and £40m moves respectively. With Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic both sidelined, Klopp needed a new holding midfielder and fast, as a new centre-back came less of a priority as a result.
Trent Alexander-Arnold would initially start pre-season in the role, before an injury to Conor Bradley saw him revert to inverted right-back with Curtis Jones then taking on the mantle. Ahead of the two Scousers, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai were stationed in their favoured number eight positions.
A minor ankle injury suffered by Jones after a difficult showing in 4-3 pre-season defeat to Bayern Munich would then prompt another enforced change at number six, with Mac
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