Alexis Mac Allister To Liverpool – Transfer Report: From Pressing To Creativity

“I really like these kinds of players, they just see these passes.” This quote from Liverpool’s Diogo Jota perfectly encapsulates what Alexis Mac Allister is as a footballer: a tactically intelligent creative midfielder capable of identifying line-breaking passes from anywhere on the field.

Indeed, Mac Allister is a one-of-a-kind midfielder, capable of playing as a 6, 8 or even a 10, possessing qualities reminiscent of City’s İlkay Gündoğan, Real’s Luka Modrić and most important of all, former Liverpool starlet Gini Wijnaldum.

From a young age, the boy from Santa Rosa already seemed destined to set foot on the greatest football pitches in the world. Alexis has football coursing through his veins, thanks to a father who once played with Diego Maradona and older siblings who are currently playing in Brazil and Belgium’s top tiers, respectively.

Background

Mac Allister began his career at Argentinos Juniors, where he honed his skills and helped his team win promotion to the Primera División as champions. Brighton swooped in soon after, signing the youthful 20-year-old to a 4.5-year contract.

Mac Allister made his international debut as a 20-year-old, ahead of friendlies against Chile and Mexico. However, his international career was marred by injuries and sickness. He tested positive for COVID-19 at his first call-up in two years for Argentina’s World Cup Qualifier versus Chile and was forced to return home.

He was pulled off 5 days after his first international action in 3 years against Venezuela after being the victim of a knee-high challenge and was sent back to Brighton for rehabilitation.

Nonetheless, he was picked to La Albiceleste’s World Cup roster, where he became a key player alongside Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María, bringing home the long-awaited trophy to his nation.

And now, Mac Allister has secured a lucrative transfer to Liverpool. How will he fit in, and what makes him such an outstanding footballer?

Liverpool

Before analysing Mac Allister, let’s take a look at how Liverpool set up.

Liverpool will most likely play a 4-3-3, with Mac Allister on the left side of midfield. Klopp favors an aggressive counter-pressing style of play, which is ideal for a player like him.

He will be asked to shuttle up and down the field as an 8 in this setup, helping both defensively and offensively. However, considering his inclinations, he will likely play as more of a ticker or ball progressor sitting just outside the box in the final third, with Dominik Szoboszlai assuming a wider role to support Salah.

Although he was deployed as a 10 under Roberto De Zerbi, Mac Allister is entirely capable of playing in a box-to-box midfield role, having previously played in this position under former boss Graham Potter.

So how do Mac Allister’s skills translate into on-field success here at Anfield?

Tactical Profile

Creativity

Mac Allister possesses numerous strengths, the most notable of which is his presence as a creative monster in the center of the pitch. He has recorded an expected assists tally of 0.14 per 90 minutes, ranking in the 79th percentile.

Mac Allister is an exceptionally versatile player, capable of making great passes to assist his teammates while also carrying the ball at his feet to generate opportunities for himself. He is in the 94th percentile for through balls and the 92nd percentile for shot-creating actions generated by take-ons.

Indeed, Mac Allister is a multi-talented player who can provide inventiveness to Liverpool’s first team. He commonly operates in the left half-space or zone-14, constantly occupying these two dangerous positions, priming himself to create chances for both himself and his teammates.

Alexis Mac Allister – Zone 14 Entries and Actions

🟢We are getting a Zone 14 specialist. One of the best in the business in that area.
🟢Capable of carrying and passing the ball in dangerous areas.
🟢Capable of spraying passes.

*Removed carries from the 2nd viz (cluttering). pic.twitter.com/NQbac60r9E

— Pranav (@pranav_m28) July 9, 2023

Alexis Mac Allister – Half-Space Passes (Left Half-Space)

Not only is AMA a Zone 14 monster, he is also a half-space monster. These are the 272 passes he made from inside the Left HS. There are 161 more from the Right HS.

Recycling, progressing, switching. pic.twitter.com/5TSSQnpXlJ

— Pranav (@pranav_m28) July 10, 2023

Goal Threat

Mac Allister is also a strong goal threat, with the majority of his goals coming from direct free kicks, where he ranks in the 94th percentile. Apart from that, he can score from open play, having an xG in the 99th percentile.

He can, however, be quite wasteful at times, with a npG-npxG of -0.10, placing in the bottom 2% for this category. However, as a professional footballer, he still has a long way to go and should improve his clinicality and finishing if he wants to be one of the league’s best.

Defensive Contribution

At first glance, Mac Allister’s defensive contribution may appear unimpressive because he ranks extremely low in statistics such as interceptions and blocks, you would mistakenly conclude that he has little to give out of possession. However, he is one of the most intelligent counter-pressing midfielders in the league, albeit without the drive and aggression of academy graduate Curtis Jones.

Mac Allister makes excellent use of his body to screen passes and force play wide. He uses his keen tactical understanding of the game to spearhead pressing traps and lead the line in collapsing on opposing players.

Alexis Mac Allister was not only one of the best passers/creators from the half-space but also one of the best ball winners. He dominated both the defensive and attacking half-spaces. pic.twitter.com/NxIUavlulM

— Pranav (@pranav_m28) July 22, 2023

Indeed, Mac Allister contributes significantly around the pitch, his stamina allowing him to cover a lot of territory and establishing him as one of the league’s most promising 8s.

Furthermore, Mac Allister excels in the air. He outperforms his height of 1.76m (5’7″) by winning 61% of his aerial duels, making him a significant aerial threat.

Looking Ahead

Overall, Mac Allister is a terrific player who will thrive under Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpressing approach. His tactical profile is a perfect fit for what Liverpool require, and he represents a significant upgrade in Liverpool’s midfield three.

Mac Allister is still only 24, and has a long way to go before becoming one of the Premier League’s all-time greats, but the potential is clearly evident and signing him is an astute piece of business for the Reds.