Craig Burley thinks Alexis Mac Allister isn’t being used in the right way by Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
In the summer, Liverpool made big changes to their midfield, with big names leaving and four new faces coming into the building, including Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton and Hove Albion.
There were those well-documented reports that Liverpool wanted Moises Caicedo, but instead, he opted to secure a transfer to Chelsea.
Given that the Reds couldn’t get their man, Burley pointed out how Alexis Mac Allister is now doing ‘a lot more defensive work’, something he isn’t used to, as he told ESPN.
It was highlighted that when the 24-year-old was at Brighton, he spent more of his time in the attacking third, but that’s not the case now.
That was proven during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw, ironically enough, at Brighton when Virgil van Dijk attempted to play out from the back to Alexis Mac Allister, only for his former teammates to pounce on the ball and score.
Alexis Mac Allister at Liverpool
“Szoboszlai and Mac Allister are terrific,’ said Burley. “But you are effectively asking Alexis Mac Allister to play a slightly different role than he was at Brighton.
“I don’t think Liverpool have quite adapted to that yet. We looked at his stats from Brighton where he spent an awful lot of time in the attacking third compared to Liverpool where he is on the edge of the box. He is doing more defensive work.
“What Liverpool signed was a guy who really was playing a lot of his stuff in the opposing half for Brighton, whereas at Liverpool, he is playing a lot of his stuff in the defensive half. I don’t think we have seen the best Mac Allister this season. He has made some mistakes. Got taken off at Wolves at half-time.
“He isn’t Fabinho or Rodri at his peak – that’s why they went after Caicedo. That’s why they went after Lavia. They were searching for that player and they didn’t get him. Mac Allister is having to fill that role. It doesn’t make them a bad side, but it certainly doesn’t make them a perfect side.”
Liverpool’s new faces need time
There have been a lot of changes to this new-look Liverpool side and the likes of Mac Allister need time to settle in.
He isn’t the only one playing with new faces around him and it’s just a case of patience being needed before Klopp’s side really start to motor.
Just like last season, those on Merseyside will be hoping they leave their best form until the second half of the campaign, it’s just a case of not falling behind early on.
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