What Alexis Mac Allister will contribute to Liverpool is analyzed tactically.

After Liverpool secured their first signing of the summer in the signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion, football journalist Andrew Beasley takes an analytical look at what the midfielder will bring.

Reds fans will know a lot about world champion Mac Allister as the Argentine played six times for the Seagulls and made 98 Premier League appearances for the south coast club.

But the 24-year-old has proven to be an elite midfielder in many ways, so it’s worth taking a closer look at the various strengths he will bring alongside Jurgen Klopp.

Opta Joe, for example, revealed that Mac Allister was the only player in the 2022-23 Premier League (with at least 1,000 minutes under his belt) to average at least two shots, two tackles and 50 assists per 90 minutes .

Part of the reason he has good numbers in these different aspects of the game is because he is so tactically versatile. Manager Lionel Scaloni used three different formations to guide Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title.

Mac Allister played in all matches, as he started all but the first match of the tournament.

The Liverpool newcomer has been deployed on the left side of midfield in a 4-4-2 system, or in that position when Scaloni has opted for a 4-3-3 or 5-3-2 formation.

Brighton’s use of him was even more varied in 2022-23.

At the start of the season, Mac Allister was often found playing in central midfield under Graham Potter in Brighton’s 3-4-3 or 4-2-3-1 formations.

Roberto De Zerbi continued in the same way when he first took charge of the club, but then pushed it further into the middle of the attacking midfield trio in their 4-2-3-1 formation .

Liverpool’s new number 10 played ‘number 10’ behind the striker.

It helps explain why Mac Allister was the Premier League’s best player in a key part of the pitch last season. The central area just in front of the opponents’ penalty area is often referred to as zone 14 and the Argentine has received and played more passes in this area than any other player in the division.

It shows his ability to find space in tight spaces, but also his ability to pick a pass. Only nine players managed more balls (defined as passes between defenders into space) than Mac Allister and seven of them represented the five clubs who finished ahead of Brighton in the table.

His attacking role also allowed him to shoot regularly on goal. Mac Allister had the 14th most shots in the Premier League last season and although he was lower in the penalty shootout per 90 minutes ranking, most of the players above him were strikers rather than other midfielders.

A standout stat from last season was Brighton had more shots on target than any other team in the top flight and Mac Allister had the second most shots on target behind Solly March.

The Argentine’s shooting accuracy has more than doubled compared to previous seasons, a sign of his progress. Speaking of progression, the former Argentinos Juniors player excels at carrying the ball up the pitch and then using it productively.

Mac Allister ranked ninth in the division for races that reached the bottom third of the field last season.

He made 22 from at least five yards, allowing him to either shoot or give a team-mate a chance – that total would have put him third in the Liverpool table for 2022-23, behind only Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez.

It is also important to be good with the ball. Liverpool should have no qualms about Mac Allister’s ability to contribute to their famous counter-pressing.

Last season he was among the top 25 players in the Premier League for winning the ball in the final third every 90 minutes and in the top 20 overall.

Only Liverpool and Manchester City average more possession than Brighton, leaving Mac Allister with fewer opportunities than many other players to regain possession.

And after regaining possession of the ball, he was successful with 84% of his passes.
“I played almost every position! And I think the managers who have worked with me know that if they need me I can do it anywhere,” Mac Allister told Liverpoolfc.com of his versatility. team and I will try to bring that to this club.”