Topic: Welcome to Liverpool, Alexis Mac Allister

[MBL?]

I still think Szobo is the signing of the season based on those insane first few months before the injuries hit, but to sign Alexis, Szobo and Endo in one window was outrageous. They have all be incredible.

Szobo was incredible out the gate but so far Mac and Endo have been better. Szobo hopefully eclipses them since he's more dynamic and younger but right now it's the other two for me. Grav a bit behind.

[Air Jota]

Dom has been a good signing but Macca has played exceptionally well as a 6 and as an 8, he controls the game and influences key aspects of our play. He's calm on the ball, he's got great vision, hes world class where as Dom imo has to be a bit more consistent in his performances.

[Redshadow]

Should be in contention for POTY. Best midfield engine in the league

[WhereAngelsPlay]

I still find it funny how underrated he is/was. He was integral to Argentina winning the world cup. He was Messi's main contributer in how they play the game. I argued with a few on here that didn't really rate him.

The main point was a player like this makes the team better. He has made us better in nearly every game he has played. You have to have players like this to win consistently.

I was underwhelmed, only because I'd only seen him against us, as I barely pay attention or watch any others.

To this day I've not watched the City mutant play against anyone, not for them, Norway or Red bull.

[MNAA]

35 million. An absolute robbery. I suspect we felt bad for Brighton so we helped them rob Chelsea by hiking the price and pressuring them to pay it.

Mac cost us 100 million. We paid 35. Chelsea paid the balance on our behalf 

[The Final Third]

Our ruddy-faced little wizard seems to have a cheat code for the fundamental constants of our universe - slowing time at will, making optimal decisions and executing them perfectly.

[Garlic Red]

I remember thinking last season he was probably the best midfielder we played home or away. I was made up we signed him and wouldn’t have been fussed if we’d paid the reported 55-70m figures. I’ve thought the same about Lucas Paqueta this season. Can’t see us going for him, he looks destined for City, ban permitting, and we definitely don’t need another 8 or player of his profile. Sometimes you just see opposition players and they look a level above. Mac Allister was always one of them. 10 years ago I’d be losing my fingernails at the thought of him heading to Spain. Thank god those days are over.

[clinical]

He's even better now because he's not being played as a lone 6

[Nick110581]

The other thing about him is how he’s helped Nunez off the pitch. They are basically inseparable.

[Draex]

The other thing about him is how he’s helped Nunez off the pitch. They are basically inseparable.

It’s the mate.

[DelTrotter]

He'd even better now because he's not being played as a lone 6

Nah he was incredible there too.

[OOS]

Best midfielder of the Klopp years. He's phenomenal, no weakness to his game. Can hunt players down, tackles all day, wins headers, can dribble, turn on the ball, pick out passes, fantastic technique, unreal engine. Everything. Can be a 6, 8 and 10 when needed.

Lad needs a proper song on the Kop.

[clinical]

Nah he was incredible there too.

He was great. But even better now

[BarryCrocker]

Best midfielder of the Klopp years. He's phenomenal, no weakness to his game. Can hunt players down, tackles all day, wins headers, can dribble, turn on the ball, pick out passes, fantastic technique, unreal engine. Everything. Can be a 6, 8 and 10 when needed.

Lad needs a proper song on the Kop.

Something to 'Mack the Knife'

[The G in Gerrard]

He's brilliant. Should not go back to playing the 6 role (however well he did at it).

[DelTrotter]

Should not go back to playing the 6 role (however well he did at it).

This is bizarre.

[The G in Gerrard]

This is bizarre.

How is it "bizarre"?

[DelTrotter]

How is it "bizarre"?

Because he's an incredible six and our best midfield is him, Dom and Curtis.

[Garlic Red]

He's brilliant. Should not go back to playing the 6 role (however well he did at it).

I get we can decide on a game to game basis, but I still think our best three is Mac/Curtis/Szobo. Endo has been tremendous and probably starts in certain types of games. I still think they’re our best three, though, and not sure Curtis or Dom suit the 6 as well as Mac.

[The G in Gerrard]

Because he's an incredible six and our best midfield is him, Dom and Curtis.

I didn't say he wasn't good at the 6 role. He's better further forward though. We don't know when Curtis is back so our midfield next Sunday should be Mac, Endo and Dom.

[The G in Gerrard]

I get we can decide on a game to game basis, but I still think our best three is Mac/Curtis/Szobo. Endo has been tremendous and probably starts in certain types of games. I still think they’re our best three, though, and not sure Curtis or Dom suit the 6 as well as Mac.

Curtis and Dom definitely don't suit the 6 role as well as Mac.

[clinical]

Because he's an incredible six and our best midfield is him, Dom and Curtis.

He's better further forward. I'm not sure that is our best midfield. We look better with a natural no.6.

[DelTrotter]

He's better further forward.

It's ok to admit you were wrong about him.

[clinical]

It's ok to admit you were wrong about him.

Eh? Pretty sure it was me who wanted Mac Allister and you Mount mate 

[DelTrotter]

Eh? Pretty sure it was me who wanted Mac Allister and you Mount mate 

You were fiercely against him being a 6 for months. I wasn't keen either but can admit I was wrong and he's a world beater there too.

[clinical]

You were fiercely against him being a 6 for months. I wasn't keen either but can admit I was wrong and he's a world beater there too.

I've said he's great there. But he's still better further forward.

[Garlic Red]

I personally always felt it was Mount or Szobo. I think either player was seen as Henderson’s long term replacement. I always felt like Mac was seen as Thiago’s replacement. A 6/8 that brought technical brilliance with underrated industry. Endo obviously replaced Fab and Gravenberch replaced Ox/Naby.

[SMASHerano]

Still can't get over how good he is. 35M was an absolute steal for this quality.

[rob1966]

I don't watch any other teams and I refused to watch the last world cup, so I'd never seen him really play. My kids said he was great but never realised just how good he is. He's just so so good.

Caicedo would probably be good under Klopp, but to think we got Mac, Endo and Szobo for less than he would have cost

[SMASHerano]

I don't watch any other teams and I refused to watch the last world cup, so I'd never seen him really play. My kids said he was great but never realised just how good he is. He's just so so good.

Caicedo would probably be good under Klopp, but to think we got Mac, Endo and Szobo for less than he would have cost

He was an unused sub in the only game they lost. He started their second game against Mexico and they looked MUCH better due to that.

[Mister Flip Flop]

Signing of the season for me ahead of Endo. Christ he has it all.

[SerbianScouser]

Christ he has it all.

Apart from height and speed 

[Chris~]

I personally always felt it was Mount or Szobo. I think either player was seen as Henderson’s long term replacement. I always felt like Mac was seen as Thiago’s replacement. A 6/8 that brought technical brilliance with underrated industry. Endo obviously replaced Fab and Gravenberch replaced Ox/Naby.

Although in preseason it was Mac Allister on the right of the midfield 3 from memory which was usually the 'legs' role filling in for Salah and Trent. I guess it's hard to really know what the plan was and not like we'll see it next year. Think like with the forwards though you see the best managers adapt to situations and players strengths and it'll still work out. Sometimes just about buying quality and letting a manager make it work

[JackWard33]

I didn't say he wasn't good at the 6 role. He's better further forward though.

This point is just redundant now - I dunno how you split hairs over where he's better (regular viewers will know he put up elite defensive numbers as a 6 for example) as long as he's on the pitch
Yesterday he regularly picked the ball up off the centre backs (or was their first pass) against a team that was dropping off and basically dominated the game as a CM in spaces where sometimes he was a '6' and an '8'
The only thing he isn't is an out an out AM because he's not beating a man or creating a yard to get a shot off .. he's a CM who'll do whatever you ask him to at a top class level

[Knight]

This point is just redundant now - I dunno how you split hairs over where he's better (regular viewers will know he put up elite defensive numbers as a 6 for example) as long as he's on the pitch
Yesterday he regularly picked the ball up off the centre backs (or was their first pass) against a team that was dropping off and basically dominated the game as a CM in spaces where sometimes he was a '6' and an '8'
The only thing he isn't is an out an out AM because he's not beating a man or creating a yard to get a shot off .. he's a CM who'll do whatever you ask him to at a top class level

I dunno, I reckon he’d be a pretty good 10 as well.

[Garlic Red]

I dunno, I reckon he’d be a pretty good 10 as well.

He was brilliant in the 10 role at times for Brighton last season, he played it more like a Firmino. Back to goal, pulling centre backs/screening midfielders out of position, absorbing pressure and teeing off moving players. In Brighton’s team that heavily relied on patterns and movement, he was brilliant. Not many sides would use a 10 in the modern game never mind a 10 like Mac. He suits the 6/8 roles well in our system.

His best comparison for me is Gundogan. Just a complete midfielder with an elite technical skill set and brain to match. Gundogan was probably a better athlete and a bit taller but they play their role in a similar way. They figure the game out and rarely put a foot wrong.

[Avens]

Apart from height and speed 

Who needs height and speed when you have Endo, Mac Allister and Elliott in your midfield!

[Redley]

There’s a thing in online retail that says if there’s an obvious pricing error the company can just void any sale, regardless of what the website says. I do wonder if Brighton might not complain that £35 million was an obvious error and claim him back

[Avens]

There’s a thing in online retail that says if there’s an obvious pricing error the company can just void any sale, regardless of what the website says. I do wonder if Brighton might not complain that £35 million was an obvious error and claim him back

Whilst simultaneously being done for price gouging on their sale of Caicedo.

[Sinyoro]

I remember thinking last season he was probably the best midfielder we played home or away. I was made up we signed him and wouldn’t have been fussed if we’d paid the reported 55-70m figures. I’ve thought the same about Lucas Paqueta this season. Can’t see us going for him, he looks destined for City, ban permitting, and we definitely don’t need another 8 or player of his profile. Sometimes you just see opposition players and they look a level above. Mac Allister was always one of them. 10 years ago I’d be losing my fingernails at the thought of him heading to Spain. Thank god those days are over.

Yep, had the same feeling watching MacAllister at Brighton- there is just this intuition that there is a potential great there.

Currently the one player I am still disappointed we didn't get is Lavia.