Alexis McAllister to Liverpool:
Jürgen Klopp’s midfield rebuild has been aided by his qualities on and off the ball
Liverpool’s midfield has been under scrutiny for some time and is seen as the cause of its decline. Overhaul offers a way to fix their problems. The acquisition of Alexis Mack Allister could be a key moment for Jürgen Klopp.
Argentinian players have pedigree. The 24-year-old midfielder is world champion and has proven himself in Brighton’s Premier League, with a wide range of skills to meet Liverpool’s demands.
For this reason, Jude Bellingham has long been considered the solution. Klopp’s midfield consists of players who can defend and attack, attack, pass and shoot at their best. Mac Allister can do it all, but when I spoke with him in January, he was keenly aware of his own positional flexibility.
“I always say I like touching the ball,” he told Sky Sports. “The closer I get to the ball, the better I feel. I like to play as a midfielder. It doesn’t matter if it’s a six, an eight or a ten. I became an adult when I was ten.” But then I realized that I could play more positions.
“I think it’s important for modern players to be able to play in different positions to give the team and the manager different options. I would say today I would be more comfortable in eighth, but sixth or third. I know I can play better than tenth.”
No other player in the Premier League’s top 10 exemplifies Mack Allister’s combination of qualities more effectively, both in terms of through balls and possession in the central third of the pitch. These are very different types of lists.
Bruno Fernandes and Kevin De Bruyne top the list for throwing the most balls, but they haven’t recovered as well as Mac Allister. Rodri and Declan Rice lead the league in possessions, but together they made six through passes. Mac Allister made 15.