How Mac Allister could help Liverpool rebuild the midfield

Liverpool's midfield hasn't been up to the mark for some time. It was the root cause of their decline in the 2022-23 season. The acquisition of Alexis Mac Allister could prove to be a significant moment for Jurgen Klopp. The Argentina international has a pedigree. Already a World Cup winner, the 24-year-old midfielder has proven himself in the Premier League at Brighton and has the breadth of skills that make him an ideal fit for the demands at Liverpool.

Read Also: Ange Postecoglou: How Tottenham could line up under the ex Celtic manager

It is why Klopp wanted Jude Bellingham as the solution. At its best, a Klopp midfield includes players who can defend and attack, tackle, pass, and shoot. Mac Allister can do all of that.

"I always say that I like to be in contact with the ball," he told. "The closer I am to the ball, the better I feel. I like to play as a midfielder. It does not matter if it is a 6, an 8, or a 10. I grew up as a 10. But then I understood that I could play in more positions."

"I think it is important for the modern player to be able to play in different positions to give the team and the manager different options. If you ask me I would say that today I feel more comfortable as an 8 but I know I can play as a 6 or a 10."

Bruno Fernandes and Kevin De Bruyne top the list for most through-balls but have won the ball back nowhere near as often as Mac Allister. Rodri and Declan Rice top the list for possession won but made six through-balls between them. Mac Allister made 15.

It was revealed that when Klopp was praising his players following their 7-0 win over Manchester United in March, his focus was not on the goals but on Harvey Elliott's pressing. That, he explained, is what had earned the teenager his place in the side.

"Harvey played a top game the other night against Wolves, he had the highest counter-pressing outcome of any player this season in the Premier League so if that is not a qualification for starting again then I do not know one, to be honest."

Alexis Mac Allister in the 2022-23 season

Mac Allister registered 328 counter-presses for Brighton this past season, more than any Liverpool midfielder. His total of 70 Premier League tackles was also higher than any player in a Liverpool shirt. .

Liverpool's intensity is their identity. Without that protection, Liverpool's structure has been compromised. Even Virgil van Dijk was blamed, but it was this lack of pressure on the ball that left him vulnerable. Liverpool conceded 103 big chances this past season. Only Leeds and Fulham conceded more.

Klopp found a late-season workaround by moving Trent Alexander-Arnold into midfield in a hybrid role. It was not the perfect solution but it was certainly a qualified success, helping Liverpool to finish the season on a run of 11 games unbeaten in the Premier League. It provided more stability against the counter-attack and encouraged Alexander-Arnold's creativity.

The 3-2-5 shape also had a knock-on effect on Liverpool's midfield. Jordan Henderson found himself in an unusually advanced role. Curtis Jones became a monster there. It is a position from which Mac Allister could thrive too, operating in the half-space in that left channel.

The advantage of Mac Allister is that he is an asset either way. If Klopp is looking for a different type of midfielder to operate in that zone, he is a natural there. If Klopp hopes to recapture the intensity of old then he can be a driving force for that too. He will not solve this alone but can help for sure.