One thing this season has repeatedly shown is that Liverpool simply cannot continue using Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis MacAllister together as the main midfield pairing.
It just does not work consistently enough.
And honestly, supporters have seen the exact same problems happen over and over again.
The biggest issue is obvious immediately:
The midfield lacks physicality, aggression and defensive awareness.
Too often opposition teams simply play straight through Liverpool’s midfield far too easily.
There is not enough protection.
Not enough intensity.
And not enough sense of danger when transitions happen.
Both players are technically gifted footballers.
Nobody questions that.
MacAllister is intelligent in possession and Gravenberch carries the ball extremely well.
But together, the balance simply feels wrong.
Because neither naturally dominates midfield physically or defensively in the way Liverpool desperately need.
This season Liverpool repeatedly looked vulnerable whenever opponents attacked centrally.
And too many times supporters watched:
- Opposition midfielders running through gaps
- Counter-attacks bypassing Liverpool instantly
- Defensive lines exposed
- Second balls lost
- And transitions defended poorly
That is not a coincidence anymore.
It is structural.
What makes it even more frustrating is that this pairing has already been tested extensively.
Liverpool used Gravenberch and MacAllister together plenty of times last season too.
And honestly, the same issues existed then as well.
Which is why many fans are now baffled the club still does not seem to fully recognise midfield as the team’s biggest weakness.
The modern Premier League is brutal physically.
Especially for teams expected to dominate possession while also controlling transitions defensively.
Liverpool’s best teams under Jürgen Klopp always had midfielders capable of sensing danger early and killing attacks before they became major problems.
Right now that instinct is badly missing.
Too often Gravenberch and MacAllister react to danger rather than anticipate it.
And against fast, aggressive Premier League sides, that hesitation becomes fatal quickly.
That is a major reason Liverpool conceded so many goals this season.
This is also why supporters continue demanding a proper elite No.6 this summer.
Because Liverpool desperately need:
- Defensive awareness
- Physical dominance
- Tactical discipline
- Leadership
- And midfield protection
Without those qualities, Liverpool will continue looking open regardless of how many attacking signings arrive.
Individually, Gravenberch and MacAllister are talented players.
But together, the midfield simply lacks the balance required to compete consistently at the highest level.
And if Liverpool continue ignoring that problem next season, supporters fear the same defensive chaos will happen all over again.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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