Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net
Liverpool have experienced a Premier League season to remember.
Following more dropped points for Arsenal against Crystal Palace on Wednesday, the Reds will have the opportunity to secure an expected twentieth league title with just one more point, which could arrive in their very next fixture against Tottenham at the weekend.
Under Arne Slot, the Reds have raced into a current twelvr-point lead over Arsenal and along with the new manager, came a new tactical vision.
Liverpool have been able to adapt to a more fluid, possession-oriented style that blends pressing intensity with technical ability and their centre-piece keeping it ticking all together has been Argentine midfielder, Alexis Mac Allister.
We will be discussing how Mac Allister’s brilliance has been instrumental in imminent league success.
PULLING THE STRINGS
Alexis Mac Allister embodies everything of what Arne Slot asks from his box-to-box midfielders and has quietly went about his business during Liverpool’s Premier League title push.
The Argentine rarely needs to be in the spotlight to make his mark and has become the orchestrator in the middle of the park this campaign.
Whether it’s recycling possession, threading line-breaking passes, covering ground or even supplying the goods in-front of goal.
Many outsiders have questioned the level of Liverpool this season, despite what the league table suggests and this is because Arne Slot has brought in a new way of playing football, that may look less-appealing for the neutral.
Getty Images.
But it’s a style that suits Mac Allister’s game perfectly.
The midfielder’s ability to dictate rhythm has allowed Liverpool to control games in a way that reflects the champions-to-be.
It may not always be easy on the eye, but Alexis Mac Allister’s influence is what makes the entire team tick.
TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE
Liverpool’s midfield maestro is always one step ahead of the opposition, and sometimes even his teammates.
Mac Allister is the link between defence and attack, working as an excellent body when Liverpool retrieve the ball high up the pitch, ready to transition.
He is responsible for initiating build-up play in the final third, absorbing opposition press and dictating his team’s tempo alongside fellow ‘number eight’ Dominik Szoboszlai.
The Argentine’s postitional discipline allows Liverpool’s full-backs to push higher up the field, whilst obtaining a safety net in their defensive roles.
By dropping between the centre-backs or stepping up to support, Mac Allister adapts to the demands of every situation, offering the perfect flexability and versatilty for Arne Slot.
It’s clear that the midfielder has become the heartbeat of this Premier League title-winning team, connecting every piece of the puzzle.
A DROP-OFF WITHOUT
Liverpool haven’t had to experience many matches without Alexis Mac Allister this campaign, but when they do, the whole team’s performance noticeably declines.
Without their midfield general, the Reds have just a 40% win percentage, compared to the 65% when he does feature.
In Liverpool’s only second and most recent league defeat to Fulham earlier this month, Mac Allister opened the scoring but since struggled to make an impact as the whole of Arne Slot’s compact and robust midfield, went missing.
Defensive vulnerabilties were also exposed during the Carabao Cup Final, with Newcastle United fully deserving of their victory.
The Magpies’ overload of their trio, consisting of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton was able to bully the Reds that day, with Mac Allister often found lost in the centre of the Wembley turf.
This became evident when allowing Dan Burn to head Newcastle’s first goal home from a corner, offering the six-foot-six defender a free run in the area.
Mac Allister competing against Dan Burn in the Carabao Cup Final.
Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images.
Although, Arne Slot defended this decision post-match, suggesting that Mac Allister’s positioning was purely down to Liverpool’s zonal marking – a tactic that has been evolving in the modern game for years.
Even with mostly consistent performances, Liverpool’s Argentine endures rare dips in form that serve as a reminder that his overall impact is vital.
LIVERPOOL’S MOST UNDERRATED PLAYER?
For a player who arrived at Anfield for just £35million from Brighton in the summer of 2023, Alexis Mac Allister’s value to the team has surpassed his price tag by quite a margin.
His football IQ and work-rate have made him become one of the best Premier League bargains of recent years, with Liverpool supporters deeming him as essential in Arne Slot’s system.
Mac Allister’s steady, composed influence has often went under the radar, yet his importance to Liverpool’s imminent Premier League title win cannot be overstated.
Alexis Mac Allister has become the glue that connects the Liverpool team together.
As the Reds look set to claim a second Premier League title in just a matter of days, the Argentine has become a real driving force towards their achievements over the season and if it wasn’t for Mohamed Salah’s overriding quality, then more plaudits would go towards the midfield engine.
Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone?
For more news relating to Spurs, visit our sister site Spurs Latest Live.
![[Valid RSS]](../valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed")