How Liverpool will line up with Alexis Mac Allister

Stuart Telford

• 8 Jun 2023 11:47 BST
• 3 min read

Liverpool have announced the signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton. How will the Reds line up with the Argentina World Cup winner in their ranks?

Liverpool have paid just £35 million for Mac Allister - a relative snip for an elite midfielder in the current market - and potentially £100m less than what Real Madrid could end up paying for their previous top transfer target, Jude Bellingham.

With James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain leaving Liverpool on free transfers this summer, the club's need for fresh legs in midfield was pronounced, and Mac Allister should provide a fine combination of steel and silk.

READ: Liverpool's Gundogan? Why Mac Allister deal will be transformative

But where exactly will he slot in? FootballTransfers takes a closer look…

Liverpool with Alexis Mac Allister?

Jurgen Klopp has tended to use a 4-3-3 throughout his eight seasons at Anfield, and with Mac Allister in his ranks he can use his preferred system with confidence. The Argentine has played as a No.6, 8 and 10 at Brighton, and this versatility will make him an asset either side of defensive midfielder Fabinho.

If Thiago Alcantara is fit, one of Jordan Henderson or Harvey Elliott will have to make way, but with one signing, the Reds options in midfield already look significantly better. Whether Mac Allister will take free-kicks off Trent Alexender-Arnold or penalties from Mohamed Salah remains to be seen, however.

Mac Allister is accustomed to playing with a left-footed right winger ahead of him, playing a crucial role in support of Lionel Messi as Argentina won the World Cup in December, so functioning the same way with Salah for company should be an easy adjustment.

READ: Mac Allister's Liverpool shirt number REVEALED after £35m Brighton move

Sadio Mane left for Bayern Munich last summer, while Roberto Firmino has left on a free, but Salah remains from Liverpool's once fabled front three, and his agent publicly shut down rumours his player was PSG-bound last winter.

He should have a fully fit Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo for company in the final third next season. The former looks a bona fide replacement for Mane, injury-permitting, while Gakpo will be more trusted with Firmino's build-up role than the pacy but unpolished Darwin Nunez.

At the back, there should be little change, although Trent could also invert into an extra midfielder as he did at the back end of last season depending on the phase of play.