In a surprising turn of events, former Brighton teammates Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo are set to face off as rivals when Liverpool meet Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.
The Argentine midfielder, Mac Allister, who made the move to Anfield for a sum of £35 million, rising to £55 million with add-ons, expressed his best wishes for Caicedo at Chelsea.
However, the sentiment comes with a twist, as Mac Allister emphasized that his goodwill does not extend to the pitch, especially on the impending clash at Wembley.
Despite Liverpool having a £110 million bid accepted by Brighton for Caicedo, the Ecuadorian midfielder chose to join Chelsea, citing the unwavering support he received from the Blues during negotiations.
Mac Allister vs Caicedo
Reflecting on the situation, Mac Allister acknowledged Caicedo’s decision as a personal one, respecting the player’s choice. He commended,
“It’s a personal decision, that’s what he chose and that’s completely fine. He’s an amazing player, a really good guy so I wish him all the best – but not on Sunday!”
Mac Allister, a World Cup winner with Argentina, emphasized the significance of the Carabao Cup final, highlighting,
“The World Cup helped me to realise that I really want to win more trophies, so this is a big opportunity. It’ll be my first final with Liverpool and first opportunity to win something.
So it’s going to be something very special for me and the team. We need to go out there, do our best, play the game we want to play and try to win.”
Van Dijk Confident of Injury Plagued Liverpool
Liverpool, however, face a challenging scenario with key players grappling with injuries.
The likes of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Dominik Szoboszlai are uncertain for the match, while Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara, and Curtis Jones are definitively ruled out. Even the No. 1 goalkeeper, Alisson, is unavailable.
Despite these setbacks, Captain Virgil van Dijk issued a strong warning to Chelsea, asserting,
“I think the players coming in have to step up and show they’re wrong. I think that’s the only way to do it.
If they take us lightly, then that’s their problem. I think we have enough quality to read the opponents. Players who come in have to show that.
That fear factor, we don’t have influence on that. Everyone has to step up, the ones that play have to deliver to get results.
Younger players as well, everyone has to take responsibility. They also have to enjoy that. I think everyone wants to get the opportunity and show themselves, and they have to be confident. I’m not worried about that.
They just have to go out there and show their qualities. I think if you play for Liverpool, you’re quite a good player already, so go out there and make everyone proud. I try to lead out the boys as good as possible, on and off the pitch, be their leader and so far, so good.”
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