da cassino： Whether deployed in front of the back four or in a more advanced role, the Argentine World Cup winner has been outstanding this season
da lvbet： Before the season began, Jurgen Klopp suggested the nickname 'Gary' for new arrival Alexis Mac Allister. It didn't catch on ('Macca' inevitably won out), primarily because not everyone at Liverpool got the manager’s reference – which is hardly surprising. Several members of Klopp's squad weren't even born when Gary McAllister arrived at Anfield on a free transfer in the summer of 2000.
Little was expected of the veteran Scottish midfielder. He was 35 at the time. It was thought that his best days had long since passed – and yet McAllister made an immediate impact on Merseyside, playing a pivotal part in the Reds lifting five trophies the following year. Former manager Gerard Houllier considered him the "most inspirational signing" of his managerial career. Funnily enough, Mac Allister is already looking like one of Klopp's.
Indeed, as we approach the conclusion of a gripping 2023-24 campaign with 'Liverpool Reloaded' surprisingly leading the Premier League, it's already clear that no club made a better buy last summer. Cole Palmer, James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus and Declan Rice are all having terrific debut seasons at their respective clubs – but when it comes to value for money, nobody comes close to matching Mac Allister.
GettyA World Cup winner for a knockdown price
Even accounting for the agreed £20 million ($25m) in potential add-ons, Klopp knew Liverpool were getting a bargain when they activated the £35m ($45m) release clause in Mac Allister's contract at the Amex. "He was a player that I desperately wanted," the Reds boss admitted. "Thank God we got him!"
The speed with which Liverpool's former sporting director Julian Ward moved helped conclude the deal shortly after the 2022-23 season ended – as did the club's positive and longstanding relationship with his agent, Juan Gemelli, who was involved in Philippe Coutinho's move to Anfield in 2013.
It was strange, though, that the Reds didn't face stiffer competition from the likes of Manchester United for a proven Premier League player who had just top-scored for Brighton as they qualified for Europe for the first time in the club's history – and, even more significantly, starred alongside Lionel Messi as Argentina won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar six months previously.
Despite Klopp's joy at landing one of his top transfer targets, he wasn't entirely sure how quickly Mac Allister would settle at Anfield, given the No.10 was just one new part in a completely overhauled engine room. Klopp thought he might take time to get used to "the different environment" and a "slightly different role".
AdvertisementGetty Images'It was clearly not the idea'
Mac Allister had zero issues settling into his new surroundings, as he quickly clicked with Liverpool's existing South American contingent, and gelled with the rest of the dressing room because of his already-fluent English.
However, during the early weeks of the season, many wondered whether he was really suited to the No.6 role in which he was being deployed by Klopp. It appeared counter-productive, as if it were restricting Mac Allister's attacking qualities.
He admitted himself he hadn't expected to be given a deeper role at Anfield. "It was clearly not the [original] idea," Mac Allister said in February. "But things changed. At the beginning of the season, we didn't have a proper No.6, so I had to do the job."
And he got better and better at it.
Getty'Better than any other six you can imagine'
By the midway point of the season, Klopp was revelling in the fact that Mac Allister had established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
"You (journalists) can all tell me what you want but he is an outstanding six on the ball – better than any other six you can imagine," the German said after Mac Allister's remarkable ability to retain possession, no matter the pressure, proved invaluable during a torrid first half for his team-mates at Bournemouth.
In his very next Premier League outing, at home to Chelsea, Mac Allister put on a midfield masterclass against Moises Caicedo, making a show of his former Brighton team-mate, who had chosen to join Chelsea over Liverpool last summer.
It was a complete performance. Mac Allister wasn't just his typically composed self on the ball; he was excellent off it too, winning possession back for his team time and time again.
Getty Images'I really like these kinds of players'
What we're seeing now, though, are the benefits of putting such a complete midfielder slightly further forward.
The understandably belated emergence of Wataru Endo as Liverpool's best option in front of the back four (it took Fabinho a long time to master the most difficult role in a Klopp side) has allowed Mac Allister to play as a No.8 – and the results have been spectacular. Three of Mac Allister's four Premier League goals this season, and four of his five assists, have arrived in his last six games.
Nobody at Liverpool is in the least bit surprised, though. The players knew from Mac Allister's first training session that he was blessed with Andrea Pirlo-like precision and vision.
"I really like these kinds of players, I have to tell you," Diogo Jota said during pre-season. "They just see these passes. It's almost like you just need to make the run and they will see it."