Alexis Mac Allister Provides Detailed Analysis Of Liverpool’s Midfield Evolution Under Arne Slot

The Argentina midfielder has played in all 17 matches of Slot's tenure so far this season

( RB LEIPZIG - FC LIVERPOOL ) NZ ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER / IMAGO / Newspix

Alexis Mac Allister has shed light on Liverpool’s midfield evolution under new head Arne Slot following an impressive start to the season.

The Argentina midfielder has been involved in all 17 matches of Slot's tenure so far and has started all but one of the Reds’ 15 games in both the Premier League and Champions League as they lead both tables.

Arne Slot has registered 15 wins, one draw, and a defeat from those 17 fixtures across all competitions. The Reds have already secured impressive victories over the likes of Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen.

In an interview with the club’s official matchday programme, Alexis Mac Allister opened up about how his role has changed this term when compared to his duties under former manager Jurgen Klopp.

“In terms of the change, perhaps with Jürgen I played as a lone five [holding midfielder]. So, the position was very different. I was much more defensive than anything else," he said.

“Nowadays, given we play with two fives, I can be a little freer and if we start with two sitting midfielders and one a little further forward, that changes things.

“For instance, when the ball goes out to the left full-back, I’m the one who can move further forward, and Ryan [Gravenberch] becomes the number five.

“So, the system has changed a little, but the main ideas are the same. I think perhaps the big change is in having that patience to have longer periods of possession and dominate games more and obviously that creates more chances.”

He added: “I think we’re in that transitional period.

“We were used to being very direct and perhaps played more long balls and nowadays with the new coach, the idea is completely different, and we are working on being more patient, to have longer periods in possession so that the games aren’t as end-to-end so that we can dominate them.

“I think that was kind of the mistake we made in the Premier League game against Nottingham Forest, which cost us the match. But like I said, we are in a transitional period. Jürgen was here for eight years so it’s not so easy to change that playing style but that’s what we’re working on, and I think we’re doing it very well.

“I think we’ve all been really happy with the arrival of Arne and we all know how much he knows about football, so for us it’s great and we know that this is the journey we are on.

“I feel like there has been a big change, not just in terms of the managers, but in terms of the management team and the sporting director too. But to be honest, we are working really well.

“I feel there’s a lot of positivity within the club and we’re working fantastically well with the new manager. We can really see that he has great ideas, his mentality and what he gets across to us is important so we’re happy.

“Like I say, we’re still in this transitional phase of looking to get to where the manager wants us to be.”

Liverpool sit five points clear at the top of the League, alone at the summit of the Champions League table, and have reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.