Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister has named a player who was very nearly his team-mate as his toughest-ever midfield opponent.

Mikel Arteta has named Martin Odegaard on the Arsenal bench after he suffered an injury against Leeds, while Alexis Mac Allister starts for Liverpool.

The Ballon d'Or. Love it or loathe it, it's the award every footballer in the world dreams of one day winning. And now, after a memorable 2024-25 campaign, the winner of the 2025 Golden Ball has been announced: Ousmane Dembele.

Jamie Carragher immediately expressed his concerns over Arne Slot's tactics after Liverpool had won their opening game of the new season against Bournemouth. So he was never going to hold back after watching the disturbingly ragged Reds slump to a second consecutive defeat in Tuesday's Champions League clash with Galatasaray.

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has picked Alexis Mac Allister as his favourite midfielder over Declan Rice, Enzo Fernandez and even Ryan Gravenberch, but hailed Rodri as the king of the position. Mac Allister, who moved to Anfield from Brighton in 2023, established himself as a starter first under Jurgen Klopp and then retained his place once Arne Slot took charge last season.