Klopp singles out Liverpool star as transfer misses become blessing in disguise
Alexis Mac Allister was not involved in any of Liverpool’s four goals at Bournemouth.
But instead of heaping praise on Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota for their second-half bursts, Jurgen Klopp chose to single out the “absolutely exceptional” Argentina midfielder. “A super important player for us,” Klopp said. “I'm so happy for us, obviously, but for him as well.”
It sounded like a rebuke of those among the pundit class who have not been convinced by Mac Allister in a more conservative role than first envisaged. And as the Liverpool manager riffed on Mac Allister’s drive and tenacity, the hard evidence on the south coast was hard to argue against.
Mac Allister made nine tackles, the most of any Liverpool player in a single match for eight years, and recovered possession on 15 occasions - a team high figure this season.
In a first half where a front three without Mo Salah were tuned to different wavelengths - only to click brilliantly after the break - Mac Allister looked like the adult among a group of children. He set the tempo in possession, embraced the dirty work out of it.
Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush
So Klopp took it as an opportunity to jab back at those too quick to determine Mac Allister’s suitability for a holding role.
“You can all tell me what you want but he is an outstanding No.6 on the ball - better than all sixes, as you can imagine - and against the ball he's just really strong,” the manager added.
“He is a really good footballer. He did the job defensively and offensively he's a super important player for us. He is really calm on the ball. All the good things in the first half happened with him.”
Alexis Mac Allister was a bright spark for Liverpool (John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)How Mac Allister ended up as the deepest member of Liverpool’s midfield has been a consequence of circumstances outside his control. The World Cup winner arrived last summer in a £35m deal from Brighton expecting to be one of two advanced midfielders.
Except when Jordan Henderson and Fabinho left for Saudi Arabia, and the club was subsequently outbid by Chelsea for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, Klopp was forced into a rethink.
Mac Allister may not be the fastest nor is he among the league’s most physically imposing midfielders at 5ft 9. But he is highly intelligent, efficient and has strength that belies his appearance.
Klopp may have gone over the top when describing Mac Allister as “better than all the sixes” with the ball in his feet. Equally, earlier in this season he admitted that Mac Allister is not a “natural born” holding midfielder when it comes to the defensive side.
For five seasons Fabinho screened the defence with a steeliness only Manchester City’s Rodri could match but comparing Mac Allister seems futile. The role is changing and, as Klopp says, football has “developed in the last years in directions we couldn’t imagine before.”
Right now no one represents Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0 more than Mac Allister, who is proving that sometimes square pegs can fit in round holes.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
