Liverpool had a rough 2022/23 campaign. An underwhelming start saw Jurgen Klopp’s side slip down the Premier League table and take early exits out of the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League. If not for an amazing recovery in the last 10 games of the league season, the Reds would’ve ended up a lot worse off than their eventual fifth place finish. The disappointment of Liverpool fans is compounded further by the promise of last season after the club fell just two games short of achieving a historic quadruple. Despite the glaring shortcomings of this year, there is resolve in this squad and it’s unlikely Klopp’s players will repeat their sloppy form in 2023/24. However, the German boss isn’t resting on his laurels, taking a more proactive approach in the transfer market to strengthen key areas within the team this summer. The top priority has to be the midfield and after pulling out of the race to sign England superstar Jude Bellingham earlier this year, Argentinian World Cup winner Alexis MacAllister became the main man. The Reds moved swiftly to complete the deal with Brighton that brings the 24-year-old to Anfield, but what can Liverpool fans expect from the playmaker? And is he what Liverpool need heading into the new season?
On the face of it Alexis Mac Allister has the credentials to make it into Liverpool’s starting XI next season. He might have only had 17 appearances for Argentina since debuting for his national side in 2019, but the midfielder had a breakout tournament in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. His performances were pivotal in Lionel Scaloni’s side as they recovered from a poor start against Saudi Arabia to eventually claim World Cup glory for the first time since 1986. His appearances for Brighton this season were of a similarly high standard, helping the Seagulls to a sixth place finish and securing European football at the Amex for the first time in the club’s history. Liverpool fans will be hoping for a similar success story and potentially propel them to a second Premier League title. PayPal bookmakers have Liverpool at 17/2 to win the title next year. He was the most important cog in Robert De Zerbi’s machine on the south coast and if he can bring that form to Merseyside then he will find a place in Jurgen Klopp’s plans in quick time.
As good a player as the Argentine is it would be misleading to suggest he was the first-choice midfielder Klopp wanted this summer. There had been speculation for almost a year that 19-year-old Bellingham was heading from German side Borussia Dortmund back to the Premier League. There were a number of suitors lining up to attain the youngster’s services for next season; Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea to name a few but it was Liverpool who were leading the charge from the English contingent. In the end, it wasn’t to be as the Reds pulled their interest due to the cost of bringing the England international to Anfield and the potential for the transfer to prevent them from strengthening other areas on the pitch this summer. While Klopp would’ve been devastated to miss out on Dortmund’s golden goose, it might turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
The shift of focus from Bellingham to MacAllister upon reflection was an inspired decision. Firstly in terms of value for money; at £35 million the Argentine is a steal for the calibre of player the club is getting in return, especially given the current climate of inflated prices. Ultimately though it’ll be his performances on the pitch that tell whether this was a successful move or not and given the current state of Liverpool’s midfield, he was a sorely needed addition. James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all departing and question marks still loom over Thiago’s fitness. As for those not named, an ageing midfield seemed to struggle to control games the way they used to and regularly failed to stop opposition players from strolling through the middle. No team had a worse record when it came to winning duels and while MacAllister has been more of an attack-minded player thus far in his career, he has proven to be versatile and an efficient ball-winner when called upon. He is also accustomed to playing in teams that enjoy large chunks of possession with only City and Liverpool having a higher average possession than Brighton last season and when you consider his passing accuracy. Only Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria created more chances from open play than MacAllister at the World Cup so expect him to thread balls into dangerous areas all season long.
He has all the necessary attributes to slot in most places in the midfield but given his tendency to feature in the no.6 and no.10 roles, it is likely we will see him on the left-hand side, especially now that Klopp has switched formation to help Trent Alexander-Arnold move with a bit more freedom. MacAllister often likes to drop deeper to receive the ball and open up the possibility for an attack. The Argentine’s propensity to do this allows Trent to move forward down his channel under the new system and is an early indication that this formation is here to stay. This formation has proven an excellent tactical tweak to this point and MacAllister’s arrival only improves the chances of its continued success into next season.
It’s essential that Klopp gets his selection right to compensate for MacAllister’s role in his side. He might find that his side will be more susceptible to counter-attacks despite the Argentine’s defensive qualities so it’ll be important to pair him with a midfielder who can cover for that possibility. To that end, it is likely we will see Thiago feature prominently next campaign if he can remain fit. That’s not a given unfortunately as the 32-year-old spent a significant spell on the sidelines last season with injury. However, if he can maintain his fitness he would complement MacAllister’s talents well in Liverpool’s engine room. Klopp is of course expected to make more additions as the transfer window goes on but the fact he chose the 24-year-old first shows how important a player he will be for the club next season. If he can replicate his form for Argentina and Brighton on Merseyside then Liverpool will be back competing for titles and Champions League places very soon.