Adored by Reds fans, Alexis Mac Allister became an instrumental figure under Jürgen Klopp and continues to be key for Liverpool under new boss Arne Slot.
However, the World Cup winner surprisingly has a section of detractors within the fanbase who feel that the Argentine is neither suited to Slot’s style of football, nor specialised enough to warrant a place in the XI.
Much of the criticism aimed at the midfielder regard his athleticism and (in)ability to impose himself physically against the world’s best, as well as his supposed struggles to dictate matches to an elite level.
While there are legitimate criticisms to be had of Mac Allister, the nature of these concerns can often come across as hyperbolic, with some harshly reducing his impact.
Considering this, should Alexis Mac Allister’s role be reduced, or should Arne Slot stick by the midfielder?
Strengths
“I love his ideas. I get on the ball so much that I really like this, so we will try to go in the same way, but of course trying to improve those things.” — Mac Allister on Arne Slot
It’s important to highlight what Mac Allister is and what he isn’t in order to understand his strengths (and weaknesses), and during his time at the club it has become abundantly clear that the Argentine is not suited to playing as the Reds’ deepest midfielder, either as a destroyer or as a metronomic distributor.
Equally, the midfielder isn’t a supreme creative force in the mould of Kevin De Bruyne, nor is he as subtly inventive in pockets of space as the likes of Harvey Elliott. So where does Mac Allister excel?
Well, everywhere.
Progressive Play
Though Mac Allister sometimes encounters issues as a first-phase receiver (he is not as bad as some would make out), these issues are lessened with the right partner beside him. Indeed, the midfielder is at his best in buildup phases as either part of third man combinations with someone such as Moisés Caicedo, or as the deepest midfielder facing play.
In 2023–24, Mac Allister progressed the ball 265 yards per game via his passing (Fbref), and this was more than the likes of Declan Rice (262 yards), Bruno Guimarães (257 yards), Moisés Caicedo (257 yards), Douglas Luiz (234 yards) and Martin Odegaard (230 yards).
It should be noted that progression does not always mean the ball has travelled safely up the pitch — Klopp’s style of football was often criticised for being overly direct last term — but the stats do at least highlight his ability to get Liverpool closer to the final third.
Additionally, while many have quite rightly lavished praise on Ryan Gravenberch for his performances this campaign, he can struggle to break opposition lines when receiving the ball in a static position — the Dutch midfielder is at his best when taking the ball on the half-turn, or when the ball is fired at him in order to allow him to drop a shoulder and drive forward.
There are few in the Premier League as skilled as Gravenberch in that regard, but the Reds still lack a volume passer in midfield, one that is also progressive with the ball. Mac Allister at present is arguably Liverpool’s only midfielder capable of consistently progressing play via passing.
Curtis Jones retains possession, sustains attacks and relieves pressure.
Gravenberch relieves pressure, carries the ball forward and attracts the opposition’s press.
Mac Allister does most of the above to an acceptable level, but he finds gaps, beats pressure and brings Liverpool up the pitch through his passing.
Final Third
Speaking of the final third, the Argentine is particularly adept at breaking low blocks through his passing and his subtle movements into goalscoring positions.
Perhaps most impressive is the fact Mac Allister has demonstrated in the past incredible restraint; some have criticised him for playing too frantically, but the midfielder has proven he is more than capable of waiting for the right moment before playing a pass.
Take his last-gasp assist against Nottingham Forest for Darwin Núñez away at the City Ground in 2023–24 when he not only recovered the ball thanks to his intelligent defensive positioning, but also scanned his available options and delayed just for moment. This allowed the Argentine to examine the scene in front of him and plot the best course of action. Mac Allister promptly lofted a pass with his weaker foot to the Uruguayan striker, who scored Liverpool’s winner in the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time.
Some would call it ‘pausa’, but it’s clear that Mac Allister displayed immense composure and intelligence, just as he did against Bologna in the Champions League this term.
He positions himself in front of the opposing Bologna midfield before playing an excellent pass between two players. Following this, the Argentine bursts past his marker and collects the ball, before finding Núñez.
Mac Allister would end up on the scoresheet, but it was his movement into the penalty area that was particularly noteworthy — he ghosted through Bologna’s block and helped to overload the far post.
The Liverpool midfielder is taking fewer shots in the Premier League this season (0.69 per 90 — Fbref) than he did in 2023–24 (1.49 per 90), though it should be noted that he is shooting from closer to goal in 2024–25 compared to last campaign (15.6 yards from goal vs 23.3 yards).
Part of the reason why Mac Allister has been shooting from closer to goal can be explained by the fact the Reds’ playstyle entices opponents forward, and this provides Liverpool’s midfielders with the opportunity to get closer to the penalty area before facing stern resistance.
As for why he is shooting less, it could be attributed to the fact that the side as a whole are taking fewer shots, with the team averaging 13.91 attempts per 90 in the Premier League under Slot, a figure that falls significantly short of their average of 20.55 per 90 in 2023–24.
Liverpool are more patient under the Dutchman than under Klopp, and this on ball approach encourages the opposition to press, affording the team with more space and higher quality chances. This is not to suggest that Klopp’s playstyle limited the team, but rather highlights the managers’ different approaches to chance creation.
Mac Allister is not the most destructive, nor is he the most incisive, player in the final third, but he is certainly one of the best at Liverpool (and arguably in the Premier League) when it comes to unlocking a defence.
Out of possession
Alexis Mac Allister is quite simply a very good defensive player.
Such a statement might provoke bemusement from fans in some corners, and these individuals could point to matches against Arsenal at the Emirates in October as evidence.
Indeed, the midfielder won just two of his five ground duels and lost his only attempted aerial battle (Sofascore). Of course, the measure of a player’s defensive quality extends beyond winning duels, but it is rare that a player can be good defensively without winning duels.
It’s fair to argue that Mac Allister has disappointed in terms of duelling this campaign considering he has won just 44% of his duels in the Premier League (4.3 won per 90).
Having said that, the Argentine won 50% of his duels in the top flight last term (5.9), including eight of his 13 ground duels against Manchester City at Anfield during the sides’ 1–1 draw.
Mac Allister also won 58% of his duels in 2022–23 (5.5 duels won per 90). For context, Fabinho won 55% of his duels in 2018–19 (5.5 duels per 90), and Declan Rice won 52% of his duels in 2023–24 (4.1 duels per 90).
The Reds midfielder can and will continue to lose out AT TIMES against bigger, faster and stronger players, but it would also be disingenuous to say that he is unable to compete against elite opponents.
Additionally, duels cannot and do not fully capture the finer aspects of defending, including aspects such as intelligence.
Georginio Wijnaldum is perhaps Liverpool’s benchmark in recent years of a defensively resolute number eight. The Dutchman did not always boast the most impressive stats, but his intelligence without the ball should not be underestimated.
“He is an architect of our success. We have built this Liverpool on his legs, lungs, brain and his huge, beautiful heart.” — Klopp on Wijnaldum’s departure
Positioning is a fundamental aspect of a good defensive performance, and while Mac Allister does not possess Wijnaldum’s athleticism, he has a comparable defensive instinct.
For instance, note the Argentine’s impressive capacity to collect second balls below:
Are Liverpool so blessed defensively that they can afford the tradeoff of carrying a defensively weaker player in Mac Allister’s position so long as they guarantee a higher output in the final third? Are Liverpool so fortunate creatively that they can sacrifice Mac Allister’s central ball progression for a superior athlete?
Finding profiles as well rounded as the Argentine’s is rare — criticism of his defensive level and his supposed lack of specialisation are, if not misguided, misinformed.
Weaknesses
Tempo controller
I wish to premise my critique of Mac Allister by first stating I believe his weaknesses in regard to “tempo setting” to be exaggerated. Significantly so.
Is he as measured as someone like Curtis Jones when on the ball? No. Do we need him to be? No.
Is he capable of slowing down play and working around a block in a controlled and organised manner? Yes.
However, it is also appropriate to say that Mac Allister is by no means a specialist when it comes to controlling the tempo of a match in the manner of others like Rodri.
The Argentine is at heart a progressive player, and his tendencies to play forward were encouraged by Klopp. The team is still asked to play forward quickly under Slot, but as the Dutchman himself has said, in a more deliberate manner:
“Liverpool used every moment they could to play the ball in behind [before]. That meant that the game was sometimes a bit open, especially in the last period of Jurgen. Sometimes I tell the players to get a better judgement in risk and reward.
“So if you can put some balls in front of the goalkeeper, please try and do so if not, it’s also a good idea to keep the ball.
“I believe the one reasons why the players buy in [to my work] is that the differences are not that big. There are only small differences between Jürgen and me, and the general idea of how we want to play football is quite similar.” — Arne Slot on his style of play
The term “control” has been overused in analysis of Slot’s style, especially given many of Liverpool’s goals have been scored during more frantic moments of play, but the phrase is not without merit. Liverpool would benefit during the initial stages of buildup if the team as a whole could somewhat temper their aggressive habits, Mac Allister included.
Perhaps too much expectation has been placed on the player as a result of Slot being forced to construct a makeshift midfield three — Gravenberch has immense qualities, but they largely revolve around progressing by carrying the ball forward, while Dominik Szoboszlai has consistently faced criticism for his use of the ball.
Consider Arne Slot’s style of play; the Dutchman has so far blended Klopp’s vertical football with his more patient approach — with and without the ball. Provoking the opposition’s press is of paramount importance, but so too is playing through defensive lines at speed. Mac Allister is excellent at the latter and has been relied upon in that regard arguably more than anybody else in the middle of the pitch.
Elsewhere, though Mac Allister’s “flaws” in relation to evading and playing out of pressure are no doubt exaggerated, there are moments in which he either struggles to manoeuvre away from a marker or is forced to play a pass that is more easily pressed by the opposition.
This would be a reasonable criticism of his ability in possession, and would be a legitimate argument as to why he should not be entirely responsible for directing Liverpool’s attacks in early phases of buildup.
The midfielder is at his best facing play, and it is no surprise that Slot has continued to field Gravenberch deeper in his double pivot — while the former Bayern Munich man might encounter issues against a block that allows him unfettered control of the ball, his ability to protect possession regardless of where he is pressed from is spectacular.
Mac Allister is somewhat stiffer with his back to play, but again, are our expectations too high? Why should he have to be all things at once to everyone? Perfect profiles rarely exist, and compromises are a must in football.
Just a final note on the subject of tempo: Mac Allister is far from the ill-disciplined midfielder that some would make him out to be.
More often than not, he’ll find the correct pass. He’s too intelligent to be restricted by some limitations in regard to press resistance.
However, given Liverpool are evidently in the market for a number six, the fact that Mac Allister struggles to recover his defensive position once the ball is played behind him must be a consideration.
Can Liverpool afford to deploy Martin Zubimendi in midfield alongside Mac Allister? The pairing would be excellent on the ball — albeit not perfect — but it is difficult to see them thriving in transition, or when the second line of Liverpool’s pressing structure is breached.
Both are capable of dominating smaller zones of space, and an effective press does not always require elite athletes deeper in midfield, but it certainly helps. After all, how many times has Gravenberch had to make a recovery run to prevent a threatening situation from developing into a dangerous one?
The hope would be that Zubimendi and Mac Allister keep possession for extended periods and prevent as many turnovers, but would the tradeoff be worth it if every unsuccessfully prevented transition attack resulted in higher quality chances for the opposition?
If Slot pivoted away from Zubimendi, would he be satisfied with someone like Aurélien Tchouaméni dictating play in the first phase of buildup? The Frenchman is by no means weak on the ball; he certainly has the ability needed to play forward at pace.
It should be noted that progression does not equate to an ability to control the tempo of a match, but that brings us back to Mac Allister: will Slot have to make some sacrifices in buildup? Will he have to make sacrifices in defensive transition?
Perhaps, but either way the discussion about potentially having to mitigate the weaknesses of Mac Allister should not be used so vehemently as a marker against him.
Every elite team makes compromises somewhere. Roberto Firmino and Wijnaldum sacrificed for Klopp, Pep Guardiola has used Kyle Walker as an emergency defender for far longer than he would have liked and Jude Bellingham has altered his game for the benefit of the team following the arrival of Kylian Mbappé.
It is worthwhile to remember that former Liverpool Director of Research, physicist and Cambridge PhD graduate Dr Ian Graham revealed that Klopp dismissed concerns about Andy Robertson’s defensive level, and insisted he could compensate for the Scotsman’s perceived flaws.
Mac Allister has shown remarkable consistency since arriving at Anfield despite frequently playing in less than ideal circumstances, and has proven in periods to be among the most impactful, forward thinking midfielders in the division.
Why shouldn’t Liverpool and Slot platform him as best they can, but more importantly, has anyone considered the possibility that the Argentine allows others around him to shine too?
Overanalysed
Alexis Mac Allister is, perhaps barring Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz, the most critically analysed player in the Liverpool squad, but the discussion regarding his involvement in the first team is often shrouded in hyperbole, mistruths and misjudgements.
Yes, he could find himself replaced in the first XI; it is a distinct possibility given the ceiling of players such as Ryan Gravenberch and even Curtis Jones.
More pertinently though, the Argentine at present possesses qualities that the duo do not, and you would be hard pressed to find another midfielder as well rounded and as proficient in as many areas as the World Cup winner.
It is hard to quantify the importance of players like Mac Allister, whose skillsets are rare, to teams that want to win silverware. He provides Liverpool with a guaranteed base performance level that far exceeds most midfielders, and we are arguably yet to see his best.
Never underestimate the value of an all rounder, never dismiss the impact of progressive passing and do not write Alexis Mac Allister off.
