Wataru Endo’s exclusion from the starting eleven during Klopp’s lineup adjustments for the midweek match against Union SG caught people’s attention. Many had anticipated that Endo would play against Brighton, particularly given his early replacement in the Europa League match suggested he was being held back for the Premier League contest.
Harvey Elliott and Dominik Szoboszlai were chosen by Klopp to play in advanced midfield positions as opposed to Mac Allister, who was charged with playing as a deep-lying No. 6. The £35 million summer transfer from Brighton suggested that the player struggled with the intensity and placement necessary for this position, as shown by his contribution to Simon Adingra’s opening goal.
Fans were irritated by Klopp’s decision to stick with Mac Allister despite his struggles throughout the game, which raised concerns about why a first-choice No. 6 wasn’t signed during the summer transfer window if Endo wasn’t trusted for these important games.
For all the talk of Liverpool’s ‘complete midfield rebuild’ they are glaringly short of a defensive midfielder/No.6.
The day Mac Allister can play in his actual position will be a very pleasing one.
— Matt Ladson (@mattladson) October 8, 2023
Genuinely feel for Mac Allister having to play as a 6. Really hope we buy a defensive midfielder in January.
— – (@AnfieldRd96) October 8, 2023
Genuinely feel for Mac Allister having to play as a 6. Really hope we buy a defensive midfielder in January.
— – (@AnfieldRd96) October 8, 2023
Mac Allister playing in the 6 when we have a defensive midfielder on the bench is borderline criminal.
Someone please make it make sense.
— Anything Liverpool (@AnythingLFC_) October 8, 2023
