Liverpool enjoyed a 2-0 win against Brighton & Hove Albion at home on Saturday to stay alive in the Premier League title race this season. Liverpool’s top four impressed again to secure a much-needed first league home win of the season. However, in-form Brighton once again exploited Liverpool’s midfield, with superior possession and pass accuracy.
With Dominik Szoboszlai sidelined due to injury, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister started behind Florian Wirtz in the midfield. After dominating early stages, Liverpool’s midfielders struggled to control the game for most of the second half, allowing Brighton to find space in the final third with ease.
Liverpool’s midfield struggles have been on display since the departure of Fabinho in 2023. Andoni Iraola has been heavily reliant on makeshift options like Gravenberch and Mac Allister in the No.6 role, but the move is failing to work since the start of the last season.
Liverpool are lacking a midfielder who can sit behind and win defensive duels in the deep. Both Gravenberch and Mac Allister have attacking traits and are more suitable for playing in advanced roles. Trey Nyoni has shown a lot of potential as a holding midfielder, having made regular appearances from the bench this season, but Liverpool need an experienced and proven option that could fill the gap in the midfield.
Amidst the need for a specialist defensive midfielder at Anfield, Sporting CP’s Sergi Altimira has emerged as a potential target. According to Bence Bocsak of Anfield Watch, Liverpool are closely monitoring the 25-year-old defensive midfielder.
Altimira was signed for the Portuguese giants for a reported transfer fee of £15.53 million in the summer transfer window and has a release clause of £67.15 million. The Spaniard has been ever-present for Sporting this season and is making a name for himself with impressive performances in the No. 6 role.
#LFC are interested in signing Sergi Altimira from Sporting CP. 📊 A very composed midfielder who averages the second most successful defensive actions (8.5 per 90 minutes) in Portugal’s top flight this season. 🎥 Recorded a video on my thoughts: https://t.co/a1v6L4qScS https://t.co/QGq5LLl6bi
— Bence Bocsák (@BenBocsak) October 24, 2026
Liverpool’s new sporting director Julian Ward is reportedly involved in tracking Altimira, having spent considerable time watching Portuguese players as a head of technical scouting for the Portugal national football team in his early executive roles. According to Bence Bocsak’s report, Ward has scouts monitoring Altimira’s progress at Sporting, showing a genuine interest in the Spanish midfielder.
Since Fabinho’s exit, the English giants have previously linked with several defensive midfielders, including Aurelien Tchouameni and Moises Caicedo, and are closely tracking Monaco star Lamine Camara.