Alexis Mac Allister Offers Reminder of What He is Capable of with Argentina

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister offered a reminder of what he is capable of when pushed closer to goal, but his outing with Argentina was “more or less” similar to what he has been doing at Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp has tasked his No. 10 with acting as Liverpool’s deepest-lying midfielder since arriving, preferring the Argentine over fellow new signing Wataru Endo.

The debate over Mac Allister’s position has been constant in the early stages of the season, with it not his favoured position nor readily showing off his strengths. But he made sure to dazzle when Argentina met Paraguay and fans took notice of his ability in tight spaces near the box, with Goal describing one instance as a “Messi-esque sequence.”

Mac Allister’s initial shot from outside the area may have been wayward but what followed was dazzling, with five players drawn to make a challenge as the 24-year-old skips past them. His quick feet are a joy to watch, and Argentina wanted a penalty after he was tumbled over in the box – for Liverpool fans, it was a sign of what could be if allowed to play further up the field.

Though, against Paraguay, Mac Allister was actually instructed to play similarly to what he does for Liverpool by Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni. The midfielder explained post match, via ESPN Argentina: “He [Scaloni] asks me to play more or less as I have been doing at the club. It is a new position for me, but I feel very comfortable. Lionel asks me to manage the balance of the team a little, to be careful when leaving, to help a little more in the relays. It means continuing to learn, like every day. It’s a position that I really like, I get into much more contact with the ball and I feel very comfortable.”

It is not the first time Mac Allister has insisted that he “feels good” in a deeper midfield role, contrary to what fans would ideally like to see. Against Paraguay, Mac Allister played the full 90 minutes, made six passes into the final third, had four accurate long balls (100 percent success rate), eight recoveries and won seven duels. A busy night for the midfielder who has already amassed 940 minutes combined for club and country this season.

Mac Allister’s Strengths

Mac Allister has already shown glimpses of what he can do when given more freedom to roam further up the pitch. His quick feet and ability to find space in tight areas are two of his biggest strengths, and it is something Liverpool fans have been crying out for.

The 24-year-old has also shown an impressive passing range and an eye for goal. He has already scored three goals for Liverpool this season and has provided two assists in all competitions. He has also created 11 chances in the Premier League alone this season, which is an impressive return for a player who is still adapting to his new role.

Mac Allister’s Role at Liverpool

At Liverpool, Mac Allister has been asked to play as a deep-lying midfielder and it is a role that he has adapted to well. He has been tasked with providing defensive cover and helping to keep possession of the ball when needed.

He has also been asked to play a more creative role at times, with his passing range and ability to find space in tight areas proving invaluable. His quick feet have also been on show on numerous occasions this season, with his ability to skip past opponents proving difficult for defenders to deal with.

Conclusion

Alexis Mac Allister has already shown glimpses of what he is capable of when given more freedom to roam further up the pitch. His quick feet and ability to find space in tight areas are two of his biggest strengths, and it is something Liverpool fans have been crying out for.

At Liverpool, Mac Allister has been asked to play as a deep-lying midfielder and it is a role that he has adapted to well. He has been tasked with providing defensive cover and helping to keep possession of the ball when needed. He has also been asked to play a more creative role at times, with his passing range and ability to find space in tight areas proving invaluable.

His outing with Argentina was “more or less” similar to what he has been doing at Liverpool, but it was still enough to remind fans of what he is capable of when pushed closer to goal. If