linked to Liverpool This season, Florentino Luís has not participated in a single minute of action in the Champions League as the Reds continue to hunt for Fabinho’s successor.
Alexis Mac Allister has been impersonating Fabinho on Merseyside ever since the new season began. Many fans anticipated that the Argentina international, who joined from Brighton and Hove Albion during the summer transfer window, would play as Jürgen Klopp’s number eight.
Due to Liverpool’s inability to find a suitable Fabinho replacement, Mac Allister—who is attacking, technical, and creative in the final third—is now used as a number six. He was over the top in many ways and Klopp took the bold decision to sell him ahead of the new season.
The Reds have signed Mack Allister, Dominik Soboslay, Ryan Gravenbirch and Wataru Endo, but all are attack-minded except for the latter, who appears to have been signed as a support act as he is now 30 years old.
Liverpool have not struggled since Klopp’s controversial transfer. In fact, the Anfield side have lost just once in 12 games in all competitions this season, and that defeat came against Tottenham Hotspur after two red cards were handed out to Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota.
Mac Allister wasn’t necessarily in the lead role when he was cast, but he took on the unfamiliar role of directing the play and putting out the fires when they broke out, and performed to a reasonable standard. Fabinho was Liverpool’s best scorer in his prime and his current replacement is completely different in that regard.
Klopp once used ‘Dyson’ as Fabinho’s nickname due to his ability to extract loose balls in his own area.
His assistant Pep Linders also once called him the “signal” of the pitching team. Mac Allister is a creative spark but is currently doing his best work as Liverpool search the market for a genuine successor.
The transfer may have been explained to Klopp on Tuesday night as he watched the Champions League action.
Liverpool will not be playing in the prestigious competition this season after finishing fifth in the Premier League last season, meaning their manager has the opportunity to study the competition with both feet in the air.
There were more games on Tuesday against the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, but Benfica also played Real Sociedad but lost by one goal at home.
Portugal thus became the first team in the history of the tournament to be selected in the first pot, but failed to score a single goal or gain any points in the first three matches. Even more interesting is the absence of Florentino Luis.
The star midfielder outshone the rest in the competition last season, registering a total of 52 tackles and an interception, and was one of the best performers in the Champions League without even playing a minute. Gianluca Di Marzio revealed that Benfica signed Luis for just $32 million last summer but nobody made a move.
Though he is still only 24 years old, Luís fits the profile of Fabinho quite well. The combative, physically strong Portuguese international is keen to win the ball for his teammates. Although he isn’t very expansive when in possession, which may be the reason Roger Schmidt doesn’t seem to be using him much, he can be incredibly productive when given the freedom to do what comes naturally to him.
It’s unclear if Klopp is still looking for Fabinho’s replacement on par, but if he is, Luís is positioning himself as a strong contender who is now playing less frequently. The only Benfica player to play in more games than his 43 in all competitions the previous season is now appearing more as a supporting role.
If Schmidt’s guidance doesn’t improve his circumstances, Liverpool may jump at the chance to sign him in 2024. At last, Mac Allister would be free to go towards the pitch’s business end.
Conor Bradley, a Liverpool prospect, has said that this year’s preseason “feels different” for him.
