Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has praised Alexis Mac Allister whilst accepting that he isn’t playing in his ideal position right now.
Alexis Mac Allister is doing a job for Liverpool even if he would ideally play a different role in Jurgen Klopp’s side.
That is the view of defender Virgil van Dijk, who has been speaking after Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Merseyside rivals Everton.
The Reds toiled for a while as Everton battled with 10 men, but the breakthrough finally came when Mohamed Salah scored from the spot.
Salah added number two late on, handing Liverpool three points and bragging rights on derby day.
Virgil van Dijk comments on Alexis Mac Allister
Liverpool weren’t at their best but that is somewhat understandable in an early kick-off straight after the international break.
One player who would have been forgiven for being a little leggy against Everton was midfielder Alexis Mac Allister.
The summer signing from Brighton and Hove Albion not only few off to South America in the international break but played two lots of 90 minutes for Argentina.
Mac Allister then started in a holding midfield role for Liverpool, playing another 90 minutes.
Mac Allister is getting through an incredible amount of work right now but maybe isn’t playing in his favourite role.
Liverpool paid £35million to sign Mac Allister after excelling in a more advanced role, but he is now playing in front of the Reds back four.
Virgil van Dijk has now told TNT Sports that he thinks Mac Allister’s deeper role may not be where he ‘really really wants to play’, but he has the quality to do it.
Van Dijk praised Mac Allister’s quality on the ball as well as the hard yards out of possession, seemingly rating him very highly.
“The guys who have been coming in have been outstanding in my opinion,” said Van Dijk. “Mac Allister has been playing maybe in a position that, I don’t know if he really really wants to play there, but he has the quality to play anywhere in the midfield.”
“With the ball, especially, he is outstanding and the yards he is doing each and every game is great,” he added.
Liverpool holding role remains a conundrum
The Reds still have question marks in holding midfield, hence Mac Allister being pushed into that role.
Fabinho and Jordan Henderson left in the summer and top targets Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia went to Chelsea instead.
Liverpool then brought in Wataru Endo, but Premier League starts have been in short supply for him as he adjusts to Premier League life.
Ryan Gravenberch arrived too but he isn’t a natural anchor man, meaning he played in more of a box-to-box role on Saturday.
Mac Allister would be better off further forward so maybe Liverpool will look for another signing in 2024.
Fluminense defensive midfielder Andre Trindade remains a target and he may well be targeted in January to add another option to Klopp’s engine room.
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