Alexis Mac Allister: Why Liverpool's multi-talented midfielder can break the Brighton curse and prove himself a bargain buy as he returns to the Amex
Ahead of Sunday's return to the south coast, the Argentine is still trying to prove he can be as influential at Anfield as he was at the Amex
Liverpool' Europa League win over Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday night was a largely forgettable affair, albeit not for Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister. The former scored his first goal for his new club and so excited was he, that he described it as the best of his career so far.
It was arguably an even more momentous evening for Mac Allister, though, who was given the opportunity to share a field with his brother Kevin for the first time in a competitive clash. The pair even partook in a rather sweet post-match interview, with Kevin putting an arm around his younger sibling as he spoke of his pride at playing at Anfield with their father Carlos watching on from the stands.
Mac Allister is now set for another reunion at Brighton on Sunday but while the World Cup winner will doubtless welcome the chance to see plenty of familiar faces at the Amex, it's unlikely to be such a cordial affair. The stakes are going to be so much higher for everyone involved, and particularly Mac Allister.
GettyLiverpool's many midfield options
Truth be told, he's not even certain to start. It would certainly be a surprise if he were left on the bench after being called upon only as a substitute against Union SG. Mac Allister has, after all, started all seven of Liverpool's previous Premier League games this season. However, after looking so light on numbers in midfield when the season began, the Reds suddenly have several players vying for starting spots.
Dominik Szoboszlai will, of course, be one of the first names on Jurgen Klopp's teamsheet. The Hungarian has made a sensational start to life on Merseyside, quickly becoming a fan favourite with his all-action style.
Ryan Gravenberch arrived far later in the transfer window than Szoboszlai, on deadline day in fact, but he has hit the ground running.
As well as his aforementioned goal, the Dutchman has also contributed two assists and has staked a serious claim to start on the left-hand side of the midfield against Brighton, particularly with Curtis Jones suspended.
Mac Allister could, therefore, be tasked with the holding role, which he has already performed several times this season. He's not always impressed in front of the back four, though.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesMac Allister's miserable Wolves outing
He looked a little lost at times in the opening-day draw at Chelsea, but that was nothing compared to his struggles in the come-from-behind win at Wolves, with Mac Allister withdrawn at half-time.
In both instances, though, there were mitigating circumstances. The game at Stamford Bridge wasn't just a first competitive start for Mac Allister, making a certain degree of discomfort in a new team arguably inevitable, he was also done no favours from a defensive perspective by the selection of forward Cody Gakpo in a horribly unbalanced midfield.
At Molineux, meanwhile, Mac Allister was clearly suffering the ill-effects of a gruelling international break, which Klopp, to his credit, quickly recognised during the first half before flagging immediately after the game to spare the much-vaunted summer signing from a media-bashing.
(C)Getty ImagesEndo a better option at No.6?
Still, the feeling at Anfield on Thursday night was that Endo Wataru was withdrawn at half-time because he had already done enough during the opening 45 minutes to secure his place in the starting line-up for the game at Brighton.
The Japan international has taken a little time to get up to speed – which is wholly understandable, given he joined from Stuttgart after the season had started, coupled with the difficulty involved in getting to grips with the many responsibilities of a defensive midfielder in a Klopp team.
Endo, though, has shown clear signs of improvement and, as the only fully fit specialist 'six' in the squad, there is a lot to be said for starting the 30-year-old 'Dual King' at a ground where Liverpool were twice over-run last season.
There is, therefore, an opportunity to play Mac Allister in the more advanced role that his father prefers, the fluid, left-sided No.10 role he fulfilled so effectively for Argentina at Qatar 2022.
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GettyA shame Caicedo didn't follow Mac Allister
Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi argued that Mac Allister was such an intelligent footballer – "He understands the game before he gets the ball" – that he "can play anywhere", admitting that he particularly enjoyed deploying the 24-year-old in a "deeper" position because of his playmaking qualities.
However, if he were to be given such a role at Anfield, he would clearly need a ball-winner alongside him, which is why it's such a shame for both Mac Allister – and arguably Moises Caicedo – that the Ecuadorian elected to move to Chelsea rather than follow his former Brighton team-mate to Liverpool.
It has even been argued that both players will struggle to replicate their Amex form in their new homes because Brighton is such a special environment. The belief is that it's both the set-up and the system that allows young talents and previously unheralded journeymen to flourish on the south coast – and that once a player moves elsewhere, often for a colossal amount of money, they look like a fish out of water.
Certainly, some players have struggled after leaving, including Neal Maupay. Leandro Trossard is also only playing regularly for Arsenal right now because of an injury to Gabriel Martinelli, while it's taken Yves Bissouma more than a year to start showing why Spurs signed him from Brighton last year for £30m ($36m).