The most recent cease on Liverpool’s midfield merry-go-round is Alexis Mac Allister. So what would the Brighton midfielder convey to Anfield?
With Jude Bellingham now firmly off the desk, the 19-year-old as an alternative certain for Actual Madrid, Liverpool have turned their consideration to Mac Allister.
In keeping with journalists on Merseyside, throughout England and within the participant’s native Argentina, the membership are pursuing a deal for Brighton‘s No. 10.
There have been claims of contact made with Mac Allister’s agent, and even phrases being agreed, whereas The Athletic‘s David Ornstein studies that there’s a launch clause – of types – in his contract on the Amex.
So if Mac Allister is to be a kind of introduced via the Shankly Gates this summer season, what might supporters anticipate?
So if a participant is within the 99th percentile for ‘objectives scored’, there’s a one % likelihood of a competing participant being higher at scoring objectives.
Strengths
It’s been nearly 10 years since Jurgen Klopp mentioned “no playmaker on the planet is nearly as good as counter-pressing scenario.”
However Mac Allister is of a brand new breed, in a position to evade the press and play their beautiful recreation, while urgent the opposition themselves.
An elite technical expertise, Brighton‘s No. 10 has a low centre of gravity and very good shut management, thriving in tight areas.
He steadily dribbles away from hazard and finds area to both recycle possession or play harmful progressive passes.
In keeping with FBRef, he completes 1.9 progressive carries per 90 (placing him within the 77th percentile) and attracts 1.77 fouls per 90 (eightieth percentile), which speaks to his press resistance.
After we previewed Mac Allister utilizing Smarterscout earlier this season, he scored extremely for ‘attacking output’ and ‘shot quantity’.
That is supported by his numbers per FBRef: Mac Allister’s 3.47 SCA (shot-creating actions) per 90 places him within the 87th percentile.
For context, Trent Alexander-Arnold has an SCA of three.71 per 90 this season.
When he does create room to play, he’s a grasp of the dying artwork of the via ball, finishing 0.43 per 90 – placing him within the 94th percentile.
And he has a watch for aim himself – he’s presently the highest scorer for his membership this season, with 10 league objectives, and has scored some absolute worldies in blue and white.
His wholesome 0.3 objectives per 90 places him within the 97th percentile this season – and excitingly, he’s really barely underperforming his xG of 0.38 per 90.
He might but grow to be much more prolific.
He’s additionally on set-piece obligation for Brighton, delivering harmful corners in addition to discovering the web from free-kicks and penalties – together with his dramatic late winner from the spot vs. Man United.
Weaknesses
I’ll have been hasty in referring to Mac Allister as “an improve on Jude Bellingham,” particularly in his work off the ball.
Whereas he does rating extremely for defensive depth and influence, Mac Allister isn’t exceptionally athletic (relative to the requirements of elite sport).
A better take a look at his recreation reveals common capability in duels (shedding 1.1 challenges per 90 leaves him within the fiftieth percentile) in addition to scoring low for passes blocked (twenty eighth percentile) and interceptions (twenty sixth percentile).
He depends extra on intelligence and timing to contribute out of possession, as seen by his 7.14 ball recoveries per 90 (74th percentile.)
It’s clearly efficient inside Brighton‘s system, however how that interprets to Klopp’s engine room stays to be seen.
Who’s he just like?
Mac Allister is a high-volume passer who usually drops deep to point out for the ball (receiving 49.6 passes per 90), earlier than trying as much as discover a team-mate.
In his deeper position this season he compares statistically to Ilkay Gundogan, Luka Modric and Tanguy Ndombele – fashionable midfield playmakers.
A wider view of his uncooked attributes exhibits a participant who’s most snug between the traces and desperate to assault.
Related profiles would come with Bernardo Silva, Pedri and, presently, Liverpool’s personal Curtis Jones.
The place would he match?
Having performed as each a No. 6 and a No. 10 for Brighton, we’d probably see Mac Allister on the left of midfield.
If this had been the left-sided No. 8 position in a ‘basic’ 4-3-3, there can be questions on his suitability – he’d be anticipated to cowl a considerable amount of floor out of possession, whereas his creativity on the ball can be restricted.
Nevertheless, Mac Allister is an ideal match for the 3-2-5 construction that has powered Liverpool’s resurgence.
He naturally seeks out positions between the opposition traces, earlier than dropping off to obtain the ball and assemble the assault.
That is in distinction to a participant like Thiago, who prefers to play passes via the traces with the opposition in entrance of him.
As a No. 10 for Brighton, Mac Allister will usually begin in a 4-2-3-1.
As soon as the ball is in play, the right-back will invert into midfield, making a 3-2-5 form.
Mac Allister strikes into the left half-space excessive up the pitch, pinning again the opposition.
As soon as the primary line of stress is damaged, Mac Allister will then drift deeper to obtain the ball, whereas the left-back makes an overlapping run.
This straightforward rotation creates uncertainty for the defence, permitting Brighton to take up a 2-2-6 form that overloads the field and creates an opportunity to attain.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold now inverting into midfield, Mac Allister permits Liverpool to match this setup precisely.
Andy Robertson‘s position up to now has been undefined – the Scot is just too efficient offensively to waste as a centre-back, but it surely’s unclear when it’s secure for him to interrupt the construction and be part of the assault.
Mac Allister’s mastery of his position at Brighton is the important thing to unlocking this at Anfield.
The truth that Liverpool are concentrating on Mac Allister means that the brand new tactical setup is right here to remain.
Why Liverpool need Mac Allister
In abstract, Mac Allister is a contemporary playmaker, sensible at each evading opposition stress and creating magic on the ball.
He’s able to filling a number of roles, however his finest place is as a No. 10 in a setup precisely like Liverpool’s.
A summer season transfer would see an elite participant type a part of an elite system, that may see Liverpool return to elite standing as soon as extra.
