Alexis Mac Allister Reveals He Turned Down Iconic No.8 Shirt at Liverpool Out of Respect for Steven Gerrard
Liverpool’s newest signing, Alexis Mac Allister, has revealed he turned down the chance to wear the iconic No.8 shirt out of respect for Steven Gerrard. The 24-year-old midfielder completed his move to Anfield from Brighton earlier in June and will don the No.10 shirt, last worn by Sadio Mane.
Mac Allister’s Respect for Steven Gerrard
Mac Allister told The Mirror that he was offered the chance to wear the No.8 shirt but decided against it out of respect for Gerrard. The legendary midfielder wore the shirt from 2004 to 2015 and it was deemed so special that no player would wear it again until Naby Keita in 2018.
The Argentine midfielder said: “One day, I was talking to my dad when he asked me what number I would wear for Liverpool. I knew there were several numbers available – including 10 and 8. The No.8 shirt is a very important number in that club because of Gerrard, so I hesitated a bit. I ended up choosing the 10, but 8 is a number that I like a lot and has a history at the club.”
Gerrard’s Legacy at Liverpool
Gerrard is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to ever play for Liverpool and is the club’s all-time top scorer with 186 goals in 710 appearances. He won nine major trophies with the Reds, including the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2006.
He also captained Liverpool to their first league title in 30 years in 2014 before leaving for LA Galaxy at the end of the season. His legacy at Anfield will live on forever and Mac Allister’s decision to turn down the No.8 shirt is a testament to his respect for the club legend.
Nunez to Take Over No.9 Shirt
In related news, Reds forward Darwin Nunez looks set to switch from the No.27 shirt to No.9 which has been vacated by the departing Roberto Firmino. The Uruguayan forward is set to join Portuguese side Benfica this summer after five years at Anfield.
Mac Allister will be hoping to make an immediate impact at Liverpool and help fire them back to glory after a disappointing season where they failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2016.
Conclusion
Alexis Mac Allister has revealed he turned down the chance to wear the iconic No.8 shirt at Liverpool out of respect for Steven Gerrard. The 24-year-old midfielder completed his move to Anfield from Brighton earlier in June and will don the No.10 shirt, last worn by Sadio Mane. Mac Allister’s decision is a testament to his respect for the club legend and he will be hoping to make an immediate impact at Liverpool and help fire them back to glory this season.