When Liverpool signed World Cup Winner Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton and Hove Albion for approximately £35 million, manager Jurgen Klopp seemed thrilled. Describing the midfielder as “very talented, very smart and very technically gifted”, Klopp gave Liverpool fans the impression that Mac Allister was going to make an immediate positive impact at Anfield. His performances in Liverpool’s first two pre-season friendlies in Germany have shown the promise that Klopp described, with the Argentine being a standout performer in both games.
Position and Play Style
One of Mac Allister’s strongest assets is his versatility. The midfielder has previously operated as a number 6 at Brighton and has done so with success. His best position however is as a number 8, pushing up in between the lines of the opposition’s midfield and defence. His excellent tactical awareness allows him to successfully exploit space, creating chances for teammates. Liverpool will enjoy his creativity in the final third, something which outgoing midfielders Jordan Henderson and James Milner lacked. His eye for a pass will leave attackers Mo Salah, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz excited for the consistent impressive service he will provide.
Mac Allister brings a certain tenacity to his defensive work. He was in the Premier League’s leading 25 players for ball recoveries in the final third per 90 minutes last season and will compliment Liverpool’s pressing style. His strong defensive abilities will make him a valuable option to play as a box-to-box midfielder for the Reds. Coupled with his impressive dribbling and ball carrying statistics from last season, Alexis seems to be the perfect fit for Liverpool’s midfield rebuild.
A Successful Piece of Business?
The transfer fee for Mac Allister has been reported as £35 million, a bargain in today’s market. With midfielders such as Mason Mount being sold for £55 million, Declan Rice for £105 million and Moises Caicedo for upwards of £70 million, this piece of business from the Reds looks to be an absolute steal. The versatility, defensive and attacking output and experience mixed with youth that the 24 year old brings will be paramount to Liverpool’s success this season.
With the club set to lose experienced midfielders Henderson and Fabinho, Alexis will be expected to play an important role in the new-look engine room at Anfield. With a small price tag, there may be less pressure on him to succeed and his Premier League experience with Brighton will certainly help him to hit the ground running for Liverpool.
With more signings required at Anfield to complete the rebuild that Jurgen Klopp has been asking for, it is sure to be a busy end to the transfer window. The signing of Mac Allister looks to be a successful start and if Liverpool can sign one or two more midfielders to complement the Argentine, they will certainly challenge on all fronts next season.
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