Alexis Mac Allister has revealed which player gave him the hardest midfield battle so far in his career.
The Argentine midfielder’s football journey began in his homeland, emerging from the Argentinos Juniors’ youth ranks to make his senior debut in 2016.
In early 2019, he joined Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion but was immediately loaned back to Argentinos Juniors and then to Boca Juniors, where he helped ‘Azul y Oro’ win the 2019–20 Primera División.
Returning to Brighton, Mac Allister gradually established himself as a key midfield presence under coach Roberto De Zerbi, becoming a standout performer in the Premier League. After playing a pivotal role in Argentina’s World Cup victory in 2022, Mac Allister made the switch to Liverpool for £35 million after four years at the AMEX Stadium.
Both internationally and domestically, the World Cup winner has played opposite some of the best midfielders of modern times and fought the hardest of battles in the centre of the pitch.
But when speaking to GOAL, Mac Allister didn’t hesitate to name his toughest midfield opponent.
“I always say same, I think Caicedo is a very good player.”
For Liverpool supporters, Caicedo’s name carries a peculiar weight. The Ecuadorian prodigy, who rose to prominence alongside Mac Allister at Brighton, was one of Europe’s most coveted young talents. His ability to break up play, carry the ball forward with intelligence, and dictate the tempo made him one of the most complete midfielders in English football.
And for a time, he seemed destined for Anfield.
Liverpool were deeply interested in Caicedo. Talks, speculation, and an agreed fee dominated headlines during the 2023 summer transfer window, with fans daring to imagine the midfielder paired with the tactical acumen of then Reds’ manager Jürgen Klopp.
But ultimately Caicedo chose Chelsea, with his former Brighton teammate Mac Allister arriving at Anfield shortly after, and their shared battles in midfield would prove pivotal in shaping a Premier League rivalry.
While Caicedo was settling at Stamford Bridge, Mac Allister was weaving his way into Klopp’s plans, bringing creativity, technical skill, and tenacity to Liverpool’s midfield.
By the end of the 2024–2025 season, the Argentine midfielder had lifted the Premier League trophy, cementing his place in Liverpool’s squad and earning the admiration of fans who had followed his career from Brighton.
It’s easy to speculate on what might have been had Caicedo signed for Liverpool. Would the Reds’ midfield have been even more dominant? Could Klopp have built a partnership that combined Mac Allister’s vision with Caicedo’s tenacity?
Mac Allister’s nod to Caicedo is more than a compliment, it is a reminder that football is as much about respect and rivalry as it is about glory. And while Caicedo may be lighting up Stamford Bridge, Mac Allister is writing his own chapter at Anfield — one that, perhaps, began with the very battles that made him stronger.
