The ECHO’s Liverpool reporters assess what to do with Alexis Mac Allister after a difficult start to the campaign
Theo Squires was appointed Liverpool FC Writer for the Liverpool ECHO in 2021, after covering EURO 2020 at Wembley as England reached their first major men’s final since 1966. A senior football journalist, Theo joined the ECHO’s sports team from Bolton Wanderers in 2018, having previously spent four seasons in the former Premier League side’s communications team where he ran the club’s website and social media channels.
A regular in the Anfield press box since joining the ECHO, since being promoted to Liverpool FC Writer, Theo has reported on Jurgen Klopp’s side as they won the FA Cup and League Cup at Wembley, and competed in the 2022 Champions League final in Paris. A regular on the Blood Red podcast, Theo has also conducted a number of exclusive interviews during his time with the ECHO, speaking to the likes of Roger Hunt, Nicolas Anelka, and Alberto Aquilani.
Liverpool midfield maestro Alexis Mac Allister has endured a tough start to the season (Image: 2025 Liverpool FC)
Liverpool’s plan for Alexis Mac Allister’s return from international duty might be subject to change. With Argentina now expected to meet Puerto Rico on October 14 rather than the previous day, it will mean the Reds midfielder will return to Merseyside later than initially anticipated ahead of next Sunday’s visit from Manchester United.
Mac Allister is yet to hit full speed this season as a new-look squad continues to develop under Arne Slot. In the ECHO’s player ratings for the season far, which was published this week, the 26-year-old averaged a 5.44 from the games played to date, which has been a sharp downturn on the sort of form that marked him out as indispensable last term.
The ECHO’s dedicated Liverpool writers have taken a closer look at the situation and assessed how Reds boss Slot might get his World Cup winner firing on all cylinders once more.
READ MORE: Alexis Mac Allister plan for Manchester United to change as Liverpool await official statement
OPINION
Paul GorstPaul Gorst
How much of Alexis Mac Allister‘s slow start to the season has been impacted by how his previous campaign ended, only he will know.
The Argentina midfielder, having secured the Premier League title, sat out the final weeks after it was revealed that he had been playing through the pain barrier to secure that 20th championship in style.
A truncated pre-season, however, is likely the main reason for the dip in performances from the former Brighton & Hove Albion star. Debates will likely go on about how far below his best Mac Allister has been but there can be little doubt the 26-year-old has yet to reach his peak in the Liverpool midfield this time out.
With Arne Slot to looking to assimilate Florian Wirtz into the team, focus has inevitably been trained on the more defensive-minded midfielders in the system and while Ryan Gravenberch has started the season in good form, Mac Allister is not yet near the level he was at last term.
Might this be a good opportunity to bring him out the firing line for a few weeks and play Dominik Szoboszlai alongside Gravenberch? That could give the Wirtz the platform and the stability behind him to go and create.
Szoboszlai has been one of the outstanding performers so far but has been asked too often to fill in at right-back while Jeremie Frimpong has been injured and Conor Bradley has been short of 100%.
Returning the Hungary captain to the engine room alongside Gravenberch and giving Wirtz a consistent run in the side as the most advanced midfielder might be the best course of action while Mac Allister continues to get nearer to 100%.
His undoubted class will show itself in time but at the moment, a breather might be needed while he works behind the scenes at the AXA Training Centre.
Theo Squires
When Liverpool signed Florian Wirtz in the summer, the stage was set for the fiercest of selection battles in the Reds engine-room. But unfortunately, Alexis Mac Allister’s fitness woes have somewhat stifled the fight.
The Argentina international was one of Liverpool’s very best players in their Premier League-winning campaign, before succumbing to injury in April once the title was already won. Although he made a belated return for pre-season at the end of July, he’s yet to resemble anything close to his best.
And that has hurt Liverpool, there can be no doubt. If Wirtz had hit the ground running or Dominik Szoboszlai wasn’t being called to play position roulette every week, perhaps the Reds would be able to manage Mac Allister more carefully.
But injuries elsewhere have seemingly forced Arne Slot’s hand. And with Ryan Gravenberch given greater freedom to get forward, Liverpool’s spine of last season just isn’t right.
Trying to play his way into form just isn’t happening for Mac Allister. So perhaps some time on the bench is required to help him get up to speed.
Szoboszlai can operate at number eight, with Gravenberch instructed to fulfil the more defensive-inclined role he occupied last season. Otherwise, Curtis Jones can come in to form a double-pivot alongside the Dutchman.
Either are perfectly solid options, which will hopefully enable Liverpool to get the best out of Mac Allister – and Wirtz too, for that matter – in the long run.
The Reds’ midfield has not been good enough this season, with multiple changes ultimately leaving the side more vulnerable defensively. An in-form Mac Allister will certainly go a long way towards turning that tide, but he is not in a position to do that just yet.
You wonder how different things would be for the Reds at the start of the season were they boasting a fully fit Mac Allister, though they can’t complain too much when only a point off Arsenal at the top of the table.
Likewise, you wonder how the Argentine’s minutes might have been managed were it not for injuries elsewhere.
But with the Liverpool midfield quota now fully stocked and both Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley fit at right-back, it’s time to try a new tactic with Mac Allister in order to get him back to his best. The Reds have the depth in midfield so use it, it’ll benefit them in the long run.