Alexis Mac Allister Ranks Rodri, Moises Caicedo & Declan Rice as Midfield Opponents

When you’ve played alongside Lionel Messi and lifted a World Cup, your opinion on football tends to carry a bit of weight. That’s why it felt so fascinating when Liverpool’s midfield magician Alexis Mac Allister sat down with Saturday Social on Sky Sports to discuss some of the toughest midfield opponents he’s faced in the Premier League.

Asked to rank Rodri, Moises Caicedo, and Declan Rice, Alexis Mac Allister delivered some honest and insightful takes that offered a glimpse into what it’s really like to do battle against the very best at the heart of English football.

Alexis Mac Allister on the Physical Challenge: Moises Caicedo Tops the List

Mac Allister wasted no time in setting the scene.

“The main thing I’m going to say here is physically, the hardest part against these players, I would put Caicedo first,” he said with a knowing smile, clearly speaking from firsthand experience.

It’s hardly surprising, given Alexis Mac Allister knows Caicedo better than most. The pair were teammates at Brighton & Hove Albion, both unearthed gems of the club’s outstanding South American scouting operation. They trained together, grew together, and pushed each other — so if anyone’s opinion on Caicedo’s sheer presence on the pitch counts, it’s Alexis Mac Allister’s.

“He is very complete, on and off the ball he’s really, really good,” Alexis Mac Allister added. “He’s not just physical — he’s technical too. He can win the ball back, drive forward, and even pick a pass. That’s what makes him so tough to play against.”

It’s clear that in Alexis Mac Allister’s mind, Caicedo isn’t just a tough tackler or a workhorse. He’s a complete midfield engine, capable of dominating a game in more ways than one.

Declan Rice and Rodri: Respect in Different Ways

After placing Caicedo at the top of his “physical challenge” list, Alexis Mac Allister continued with Declan Rice, placing the Arsenal man second, and finally Rodri in third.

But to be clear, this wasn’t a slight on Rodri — far from it.

“It doesn’t mean that I don’t rate Rodri, it’s the complete opposite,” Alexis Mac Allister quickly clarified. “I think he earned the Ballon d’Or nomination, for example. He’s a fantastic player.”

So why wasn’t Rodri ranked as the toughest opponent?

Simple, according to Alexis Mac Allister: you can’t even get near him.

“He’s never on the ball long enough,” he laughed. “He always plays one or two touches. So you cannot even get close to him. He’s too smart, too quick with his decisions.”

It’s a brilliant insight into how elite midfielders operate at the highest level. Some players are tough because of their physicality. Others, like Rodri, are almost impossible to challenge because of their intelligence and technical security.

In Alexis Mac Allister’s mind, if you’re asking who the better player is, Rodri wins hands down. But if you’re asking who the toughest to play against is — purely from a “how hard is it to physically compete” standpoint — Caicedo takes the crown.

Moises Caicedo: From Brighton Prospect to Premier League Powerhouse

Moises Caicedo is the “toughest” to play against / Ryan Pierse/GettyImages

For Alexis Mac Allister, there’s also an element of personal pride in seeing how far Moises Caicedo has come.

Back at Brighton, the Ecuadorian midfielder was a promising young talent — but even then, Alexis Mac Allister saw signs of greatness.

“I was really surprised when he went on loan to Belgium [Beerschot in 2021/22],” he admitted. “I was watching him in training and felt like he was ready to play [for Brighton] already.”

At the time, Brighton felt Caicedo needed more regular minutes to aid his development. And the player himself wanted it too, hungry for first-team action. But Alexis Mac Allister had no doubt that, eventually, Caicedo would emerge as a Premier League force.

And he was right.

After returning from Belgium, Caicedo quickly established himself as one of the most dynamic midfielders in the Premier League, catching the attention of heavyweights like Chelsea and Liverpool.

The Liverpool Near-Miss: Almost Reunited at Anfield

In a fascinating twist of fate, Alexis Mac Allister and Caicedo almost reunited at Liverpool last summer.

After Alexis Mac Allister made his early switch to Anfield, Liverpool launched a record-breaking £111m bid for Caicedo — a move that briefly looked certain to happen.

But at the last minute, Chelsea swooped in, gazumping Liverpool’s offer and convincing Caicedo to head to Stamford Bridge instead.

For Liverpool fans, it was a painful near-miss. For Alexis Mac Allister, it would have been a special reunion.

“Sharing a dressing room with Moi again would have been amazing,” he reflected. “Fantastic player, really good physically. I always knew he was going to be amazing.”

Even now, you get the sense there’s a genuine friendship and mutual respect between the two South American stars, forged during their Brighton days.

Rodri: The Metronome Madrid and Manchester City Rely On

Circling back to Rodri, Alexis Mac Allister’s admiration for the Manchester City midfielder is crystal clear.

There’s a reason Rodri is often referred to as City’s metronome — he keeps everything ticking over, rarely putting a foot wrong, always one step ahead of the opposition.

In fact, Rodri’s impact on City’s historic treble-winning season was so immense that many analysts and former players argued he should have been a far stronger contender for the 2023 Ballon d’Or.

Mac Allister echoes that sentiment. “He earned that Ballon d’Or recognition,” he stressed. “But when it comes to playing against him, it’s a different kind of challenge. It’s not a physical war — it’s a mental chess match.”

Trying to press Rodri? Good luck. He’ll just pop it off first time and leave you chasing shadows.

Declan Rice: Arsenal’s Defensive Rock

And what about Declan Rice?

While Rice came second in Alexis Mac Allister’s physical rankings, there’s no doubting the Argentine’s respect for the Arsenal midfield enforcer.

Since his big-money move from West Ham to Arsenal, Rice has been a transformative figure for Mikel Arteta’s side. His blend of power, poise, and positional intelligence has turned Arsenal into legitimate Premier League title contenders.

Physically, Rice covers an incredible amount of ground. He breaks up play, shields the defense, and has developed an impressive knack for driving forward with the ball when needed.

Against players like Rice, Alexis Mac Allister acknowledged, you have to be constantly switched on — and ready for a battle.

Final Thoughts: A Midfielder’s Midfielder Speaks His Mind

What makes Alexis Mac Allister’s rankings so refreshing is their honesty.

There’s no attempt to pander to big names or deliver politically correct answers. Instead, we get a genuine glimpse into what it’s like to operate in the brutal, beautiful world of Premier League midfield battles.

For Alexis Mac Allister:

• Rodri is the best, the smartest, and perhaps the most untouchable.

• Moises Caicedo is the toughest, the most relentless physical opponent.

• Declan Rice is the perfect blend of both.

And for football fans everywhere, insights like this are pure gold.