How Mac Allister's role change elevated Liverpool to title favourites
When Liverpool underwent their midfield refresh over the summer, the addition of Alexis Mac Allister was the one that excited fans the most. The 25-year-old was pivotal in his final season at Brighton and was instrumental in Argentina's World Cup success in Qatar back in 2022. Once Liverpool made it clear they'd move for Mac Allister last summer, the Seagulls were relatively powerless to stop the midfielder from leaving.
Mac Allister was the first of four new central midfielders through the Anfield doors, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch all arriving over the summer. While it's an ongoing project, the new additions have proven key in Liverpool's title charge in Jurgen Klopp's final season at the Anfield helm.
However, in recent weeks it has been the Argentine that has been coming in clutch for Klopp's side. With supporters eager to see Klopp bow out on a high next month, Mac Allister's role change has proven vital as the Reds keep Arsenal and Manchester City at an arms' length. What was crucial about his addition on Merseyside was the versatility in the midfield.
The former Brighton man can carry out any number of roles in the middle of the park, and do so well. The issue at the start of the season, though, was that Liverpool didn't have a specific player to anchor the midfield following Fabinho's unexpected departure. This was a role that Mac Allister can play but it's also a waste of his talent. Endo's addition should have presented Mac Allister with the opportunity to operate in a more advanced position in midfield but the former took time to consolidate a first team spot, and even then his game time was limited owing to his participation with Japan at the Asian Cup.
Once Endo returned and got back up to speed with the rigours of domestic football following his time with Japan, Mac Allister was unleashed and Liverpool have been benefitting with Klopp's decision to utilise the duo in midfield. Indeed, since the Asian Cup, both players have started eight of a possible 12 matches together, that since the 3-1 win over Burnley in mid-February.
Since that victory over the Clarets, Mac Allister has been directly involved in 10 goals in all competitions, scoring five, which includes crucial strikes against Manchester City last month and Sheffield United on Thursday night. As one might expect, giving Mac Allister the freedom to push upfield presents Liverpool with another route to goal and he's maximised the chance to impact games in the final third.
The number of shots per 90 Mac Allister makes since Endo's return from the Asian Cup has risen from 1.0 to 2.5. So too has the number of key passes per 90 (1.0 to 2.8). While Mac Allister isn't as involved in breaking up the play, with the number of tackles per 90 dropping from 3.4 to 2.8, he is still winning the ball higher up the pitch to influence games in attack.
In addition, Mac Allister isn't being as 'safe' in possession now he's operating higher, with both passes per 90 (68 to 62) and pass success rate (88.5% and 86.2%) dropping, fans would rather see the midfielder taking more risks on the ball, with the results reinforcing the decision to lessen his defensive responsibility.
Mac Allister was always going to be an effective option for Klopp at Anfield but he's elevated his game since Endo became a permanent fixture in the XI. Now able to really support the offensive, playing a role that maximises his strengths in attack, the Reds head into the final furlong of the Premier League season top of the table and in great form.
Every title challenger needs their clutch player to come up trumps in the final weeks of the season. For Manchester City, that has so often been Ilkay Gundogan, and this season, Kevin De Bruyne is expected to play the part for Pep Guardiola's side. With just eight games of the Premier League season to go, Mac Allister is performing this duty superbly. He may have been restricted in the opening months of the season as Endo got up to speed following his arrival from VfB Stuttgart, yet Mac Allister has now been released from his shackles with Liverpool firmly in the driving seat for the Premier League title.
